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[Cyolxurwood]

I accidentally picked up the phone just now because I thought it was my teenage day calling. It was my toxic mom whom I'm no contact with trying to lie and manipulate me again. And garner sympathy and try to lure me back into a relationship with her. Please pray that God doesn't punish me or take away blessings because I asked her about her situation (she's supposedly getting a divorce) and because I let my guard down and answered some questions. Please pray me and my son don't lose our apartment because of anything I said or did

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart in this and we are praying with you right now. We understand the shock and anxiety of accidentally answering that call, especially when you have set a boundary of no contact for good reason, and the fear that followed that God might punish you or remove His blessing from you and your son over a moment when your guard was down.

We want to gently correct that fear with the truth of Scripture, because God is not waiting to punish you for an honest mistake or for showing a moment of concern. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:10. And perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18. You asking about her situation and answering a few questions does not cause God to withdraw His provision or His protection over you and your son and your home. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. Psalm 103:8.

We also notice your prayer mentions God but not the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and confidence that He hears us. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. And there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. It is because of what Jesus did on the cross, taking our sin and punishment upon Himself, that we can come boldly to God not in fear of punishment but as beloved children. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your trust fully in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, believing He died for your sins and rose again, and to call upon His name in all your prayers.

Regarding your mother, Scripture does command us to honor your father and your mother. Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2. Honoring does not mean allowing yourself to be continually manipulated, lied to, or drawn back into a harmful pattern. It can mean honoring from a distance, with prayer and with firm boundaries, while guarding your heart. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23. We are also called to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16. Setting and keeping a no contact boundary when there is toxicity and manipulation is not dishonoring and it is not a sin that would cause God to take away your apartment. We encourage you to reestablish that boundary in wisdom, perhaps by blocking or screening calls, and seeking godly counsel from a pastor or trusted mature believer as you navigate this.

We also pray for your mother in her reported divorce. God takes marriage seriously and we know marriage is meant to be a lifelong covenant, and we grieve with you over the brokenness there. We pray God will work in her life to bring truth, repentance where needed, and healing.

We are bringing you and your son before the Lord and asking for His perfect peace and provision to rest upon your home. We pray that you will not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. And our God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.

We pray together now.

Father in heaven, we come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, and we lift up this dear one and her son to You. Lord, You see the startle and the anxiety she felt after that unexpected phone call, and the fear that she had done something wrong that would cause You to punish her or take away her home. Father, we ask You to quiet that fear with Your perfect love and remind her that You are a gracious and merciful Father who does not punish Your children for an accidental conversation. Wash away condemnation and fill her with assurance that she is forgiven and secure in Christ. Guard her heart and mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord, we ask You to place Your hand of protection over her and her son and over their apartment. You are their provider and their refuge. We pray that no scheme or word spoken in that call would harm their stability or their provision, and that You would continue to supply all they need and keep them secure in their home. Help her to walk in wisdom regarding boundaries with her mother, to honor You while also protecting herself and her child from manipulation and lies. Give her discernment, strength to maintain healthy boundaries without guilt, and godly counsel around her.

We also lift her mother to You, Lord. You know the truth of her situation and her marriage. We pray You would work in her heart, bring conviction where there is deception, bring comfort where there is pain, and draw her to Yourself and to repentance and truth through Jesus Christ.

Father, we pray this dear one would know deeply that she can come to You freely through Jesus, and that she would rest in Your unfailing love. Lead her each day and let her feel Your nearness and Your faithful care over her family. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

We encourage you to keep bringing every worry to Him quickly in prayer, to stay rooted in His Word daily, and to not let the enemy use guilt or fear to steal your peace. God is for you, He is keeping you, and He will not remove His blessing because you showed a moment of human compassion on a call you did not intend to take. Rest in His grace and keep trusting Him to be your provider and protector.

 

[hostadmin]

We heard how unsettling that call must have been, thinking it was your teenager and then hearing your mom's voice instead. Of course your mind went into overdrive afterward, replaying what you said and worrying about what it might cost you and your son.

We want to reassure you on what you asked us to pray about. Accidentally answering and asking a polite question about her situation does not mean you invited punishment or that God will take away His care for you and your son. He is not looking for a reason to withdraw His goodness over a moment when you were caught off guard. And answering a few questions under pressure does not undo the careful boundaries you have worked so hard to hold.

Boundaries are like a property line for our hearts and lives. They help us know what is ours to carry and what is not, and they protect our freedom to say yes when we mean yes and no when we mean no. When someone has been manipulative in the past, it is normal to feel shaky after contact, even brief contact. That feeling does not mean you failed.

One steady next step that helps many who are no contact is to reset the practical boundary for calls. Letting unknown or unexpected calls go to voicemail first and having a short, planned way to end a call if it happens again can lower that anxious replay and help you feel safer going forward.

Father, we bring this mom and her son to You in Jesus' name. Calm the fear and guilt that rose after this call, remind her of Your steady love, give her wisdom for any future contact, and provide for their home and daily needs. Keep them secure in Your care. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your heart has been much disquieted by this sudden trial, and the fear that has followed it is a very common disease of good men, fear and dismay, which came into man's heart with sin. But the Lord meets this fear with His own word, Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yea, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

You need not fear that the Lord will punish you or take away His blessings because you answered the phone in mistake, or because you asked a question about your mother's situation, or because you answered some questions when your guard was down. The burden of conscience often whispers that God is still terrible toward us and ready to smite us for every slip, but the glad tidings of the gospel are, Fear not. Christ has come and He has borne the punishment for all who trust Him. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Your sins, your infirmities, your unguarded moments are not kept against you to make God turn away His hand from you. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin, and even those who walk in the light have this sweet assurance.

The Lord does not deal with His children as a hard master watching to take away their home for one mistaken conversation. He is a God of compassion, and therefore the poor and feeble sons and daughters of Adam have power with Him through prayer. He sees you in all the good or ill that checkers life, and He invites you to declare your ways to Him, for He heareth you. It ought to be the daily habit of the believer to commune with his God and make Him his confidant in all things, and you have done well to bring this fear into the light before Him.

Do not think that a single phone call can undo the care of Him who is God with us. He was with you when the phone rang, He is with you now in your apartment, and He will be with you as you seek to walk wisely in the days to come. When you have done the little you can do, you may say, this is beyond my power, I will leave it with my God who will appear for me in the time of my extremity.

Let us pray together.

O Lord our God, Thou hearest the cries of Thy children, hear this Thy daughter who trembles lest she has sinned against Thee by an unguarded word. Assure her heart that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, and that Thou dost not punish where Christ has already borne the penalty. Take away her fear and let her hear the angel's voice, Fear not. Be Thou with her and with her son. Strengthen her, help her, uphold her with the right hand of Thy righteousness. Keep their home in safety, supply their needs from Thy fountain which never fails, and give her wisdom to walk in holiness and peace, to guard her heart and her household with discretion, and to find her comfort not in the words of man but in the promises of Thy Word. Keep her in perfect peace as she trusts in Thee, and let her know that Thou art her God, now and even till the end. In Jesus' name we ask it, Amen.