Episode 88 - Struggling Children and You Can’t Fix It | + Original Song "I'll Leave the Porch Light On"

About this episode

This episode discusses the pain parents feel when they cannot fix their struggling children and emphasizes the importance of love and boundaries.

Episode 88 - Struggling Children and You Can’t Fix It Some of the deepest pain a parent can carry is watching a child struggle… and realizing you can’t fix it. In this honest and heartfelt episode of Pastors in Recovery, we talk about the heartbreak of loving teenage or adult children who are making difficult choices, drifting spiritually, resisting help, or blaming the very people trying to care for them. For many parents, the dream slowly changes over time. First you hoped they’d love Jesus. Then maybe marry well. Then maybe just stay in church. Then maybe just find stability. Then maybe… just stay safe. And through it all, your love never got smaller. This episode is for parents carrying guilt, grief, confusion, and private tears. Especially those who feel like they failed when in reality they are dealing with something every loving parent eventually learns: You can love deeply… and still not control the outcome. We’ll talk about: • When helping gets called controlling • Why parents carry guilt for choices they didn’t make • Boundaries without losing love • Hope when your child is far from where you dreamed they’d be • Trusting God with what you cannot change 🎵 Featuring the…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Hammond

Topics covered

• parenting
• mental health
• spiritual struggle
• boundaries
• guilt
• hope

Keywords

• parenting
• struggling children
• mental health
• boundaries
• guilt
• hope
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: I'll Leave the Porch Light On

More episodes of Pastors in Recovery

• Episode 94 - The People God Sent | + Original Song "The People God Sent" · June 10, 2026 · 17 min
• Episode 93 - Retiring Without Losing Your Purpose | + Original Song "Seasons" · June 3, 2026 · 14 min
• Episode 92 - Always On - Pastors ADHD and the Guilt of Rest | + Original Song "Downshift" · May 27, 2026 · 12 min
• Episode 91 - Everbody Else | + Original Song "Everybody Else" · May 20, 2026 · 13 min
• Episode 90 - Called… But Not Ready Yet | + Original Song "Not Ready Yet" · May 13, 2026 · 15 min
• Episode 89 - Another Church Town | + Original Song "Another Church Town" · May 6, 2026 · 13 min