Zach Williams’ Parents, Steve and Jenia, Encourage Those Waiting for Their Loved One to Come Home in ‘God’s Heart for the Prodigal’
Since Zach Williams released his debut single, “Chain Breaker,” in 2016, he hasn’t been shy about publicly detailing his story of redemption. He shared it in even greater depth in his 2024 memoir, “Rescue Story,” which won the trophy for Book Impact at the K-LOVE Fan Awards that same year. Now, for the first time, the other side of the story is being told from the perspective of the hitmaker’s parents, Steve and Jenia (pronounced Jee-nee) via “God’s Heart for the Prodigal: A Devotional Journey of Mercy, Redemption and Unfailing Love.”
The new 30-day devotional from K-LOVE Books offers a vulnerable glimpse into the heartbeat of the couple who prayed for their prodigal son for years. When Zach’s promising trajectory was derailed after he got expelled from high school, his dreams of a basketball scholarship were dashed. After obtaining his GED diploma, drug and alcohol use fueled his rock ’n’ roll lifestyle as he traveled the world with his secular band. He eventually returned to faith after hitting rock bottom and hearing Big Daddy Weave’s “Redeemed” in between tour dates overseas. That signaled the beginning of a transformation for the singer. Yet, for his parents, it marked an answer to countless prayers they had been praying for more than a decade. And they weren’t just praying for Zach; they were praying for his wife, Crystal, and their daughter and her husband, as well. Thanks to the power of praying parents, all four of them know and serve the Lord today. But the unique paths that led them there were rocky at best. And that’s what Steve and Jenia reveal in “God’s Heart for the Prodigal.”
The Williams don’t sugarcoat the heartache of watching their kids walk away from the values of their childhood. Instead, they choose to illuminate the hardest, messiest parts of their experience transparently. Their story, however, begins way before Zach and his sister were born.
Married for more than 50 years, Steve and Jenia open the book by briefly presenting their respective testimonies. Christian music actually played a crucial role in each of them coming to a place of spiritual surrender. The high school sweethearts go on to share how they were raised, how they eventually strayed from and rediscovered their faith and how they struggled as young newlyweds, even separating for a six-week period. Steve, who was forced to deal with his own alcohol battle at one point, reveals how his previous choices gave him the compassion and grace he later needed for his children as their lives spiraled out of control.
Far from a surface-level devotional full of motivational platitudes, “God’s Heart for the Prodigal” offers a surprisingly in-depth exploration of Scripture. Each chapter focuses on a specific part of the prodigal journey with Biblical text providing the foundation for every nugget of wisdom the couple dispenses. Additionally, each day’s devotional delivers ample room for written reflection with thoughtful prompts and journaling space. The proud parents also pair one of Zach’s songs with each chapter, allowing their son’s music to provide a playlist to accompany the book.
Offering actionable steps for anyone waiting for their prodigal to change course, Steve and Jenia expound on all the trial and error that helped them survive the waiting season. The Arkansas natives walk readers through the process of praying Scripture over their wayward loved one, surrendering the timeline to God and staying rooted in His promises.
As parents, they divulge their biggest worries and deepest concerns for their kids as they witnessed them struggling. They recount the conversations they had and the words of support they offered their children. They reflect on the criticism and hurtful comments they received from fellow parents and even members of their church community. They express their moments of doubt, and at times, the hopelessness they felt, wondering if God was hearing their desperate prayers for their son and daughter. Through it all, they are quick to emphasize that just because their story has a “happy ending” doesn’t mean it was ever perfect, nor does it mean they were perfect parents. Yet, it’s their humble imperfections and their candidness that make them endearing. Steve and Jenia prove to be the empathetic companions every parent grieving a prodigal needs as they walk the rarely-talked-about road toward redemption and reconciliation.
Along the way, Zach and Crystal chime in with their own thoughts and recollections, helping to provide a full-circle perspective. Time and time again, both generations of Williams remind readers hope is never lost; it’s not too late; and no one can outrun the love of God.
For those who are losing sleep over a lost loved one, who has wandered far from Jesus — a son, a daughter, a spouse, a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a friend — “God’s Heart for the Prodigal” is a practical, hope-filled resource you’ll continuously reach for as you anchor yourself in truth. Meanwhile, fans can experience God’s redemptive work play out in real time listening to Zach’s latest live project, “Revival Nights At Red Rocks.”
