In this profound reflection, we are invited to see ourselves in the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-35. As Prophetess Melody Kays guides us, she asks us to view the father in this story as God and ourselves as the prodigal son, to grasp the depth of the scripture’s message.
The prodigal son is a familiar character in the Bible. His story begins with impatience, greed, and irresponsibility. He was restless, demanding his share of the inheritance while his father was still alive. His father, in a bid to grant him the freedom he sought, released a portion of his wealth to him. But instead of finding joy, the young man squandered his inheritance recklessly, living among harlots and fair-weather friends. In no time, his fortune was gone, and when he was in desperate need, none of those he had spent his wealth on could be found.
This story holds a mirror up to our own lives. How many times have we, like the prodigal son, prayed to God for something we weren’t ready for? “The blessing of the Lord is very expensive,” Prophetess Melody reminds us, “for it did not come cheap—His blood was shed on the cross in order for us to acquire it.” The prodigal son couldn’t value his father’s wealth because he hadn’t labored for it, which is why he spent it so carelessly.
The same principle applies to many of us today. Prophetess Melody warns, “Many Christians ended up as drunkards, prostitutes, thieves because their prayer requests had not yet been answered.” Instead of waiting for the true blessing from God, many turn back to the world, driven by impatience. But God, in His wisdom, will never give us something that will harm us or something we are not mature enough to handle. “There are so many ladies who cry for marriages,” she continues, “but are you ready for it? Or are you just seeking the title of being ‘Mrs.’ without understanding what it is to be a wife?”
This question of readiness extends beyond marriage to all areas of life. “Some want to become pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers of the Word, and apostles,” says Prophetess Melody, “but are they really ready and mature for the work? Will they be able to handle the fire that comes with these offices?” Even with the greatest anointing, one still needs to be announced to the world and released by a spiritual authority before starting God’s work.
The Test of Readiness
God, in His omniscience, often tests us before releasing a blessing into our lives. “Whenever God wants to release a blessing into your life,” Prophetess Melody teaches, “He will test you by pulling Himself away so that He can watch from a distance.” This moment of perceived absence is a test of strength and capacity.
In Job 23:8-10, we see this testing process described: “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Similarly, Isaiah 45:15 tells us: “Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.”
These scriptures emphasize that God hides Himself at times, but His absence is never for long. He is always watching, waiting to see if we can handle situations on our own. “Before God’s blessing is released in your life,” Prophetess Melody explains, “you go through trials, persecutions, rejection, and resistance.” But if, like Job, you hold on to your faith and maintain your confession that Christ is Lord, even without seeing immediate results, God will consider you worthy of His full blessing.
The Dangers of Impatience
One of the most poignant lessons of the prodigal son’s story is the danger of impatience. “When you continue to nag God with the same prayer request,” Prophetess Melody warns, “at times He will release a portion of your full blessing so that you can learn the hard way that you were not ready.” This partial blessing, like the inheritance the prodigal son received, can cause more harm than good if we are not prepared for it.
When we receive blessings and fail to maintain them, or when we neglect to honor the Giver of those blessings, God may have no choice but to humble us. “Sometimes,” Prophetess Melody says, “when you receive a blessing and fail to acknowledge the blesser, your priorities are misplaced.” Like the prodigal son, we may need to be humbled to the point where we recognize our dependence on God and return to Him.
The God of Second Chances
One of the most beautiful aspects of the prodigal son’s story is the theme of redemption. After squandering his inheritance and reaching rock bottom, the prodigal son came to his senses and returned to his father. He was willing to work as a servant, but his father welcomed him back with open arms. This is a reflection of God’s nature. “Our God in heaven is a God of second chances,” says Prophetess Melody.
The question she leaves us with is this: Have you been given a second chance? Whether it’s in your marriage, your workplace, or your ministry, God’s grace is always available to those who humble themselves and return to Him.
A Prayer for Refinement
Prophetess Melody concludes with a prayer for all of us: “May God process you until you are refined as pure as gold. God should release you when you are mature enough to handle the blessing, and no matter how much God raises you, always remain humble.”
Just as the prodigal son was refined through his hardships and given a second chance, may we also learn to wait on God’s timing, embrace His refining process, and receive His blessings with humility.
Prophetess Melody is the leader and founder of an Inter denominational ministry called Unbreakable Women located and based in Harare.
