We lift up your daughter and grandson before the Lord, knowing that He is the God of restoration, wisdom, and discipline. It is beautiful that your daughter is seeking to rebuild her relationship with her son after her recovery from addiction—this is a testament to God’s redeeming power in her life. However, we must also address the spiritual and practical challenges at hand with truth and love.
First, we commend your daughter for her perseverance in overcoming addiction, which is only possible through the strength of Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us in **2 Corinthians 5:17**, *"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new."* This is the hope she must cling to—not just for herself, but as she parents her son. Yet, we must also acknowledge that parenting requires godly authority, and disrespect cannot be tolerated. **Ephesians 6:1-3** instructs children, *"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with a promise: 'that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.'"* Your grandson’s refusal to work and his disrespect are not only harmful to their relationship but are in direct opposition to Scripture. Idleness is condemned in **2 Thessalonians 3:10**, which states, *"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: 'If anyone doesn’t want to work, neither let him eat.'"*
Your daughter’s frustration is understandable, but she must respond with both firmness and grace. **Proverbs 22:6** teaches, *"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."* This training includes discipline, love, and clear expectations. If her son is old enough to work, he should be held accountable—whether through chores, a job, or structured responsibilities. If he is still young, she must teach him the value of labor and respect through consistent, biblical parenting. If she has been permissive in the past due to her struggles, now is the time to reestablish godly order in the home.
We also urge your daughter to examine her own heart. Has she fully surrendered her parenting to the Lord? Is she seeking His wisdom daily? **James 1:5** promises, *"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him."* Parenting after addiction requires humility, repentance, and a reliance on God’s strength—not her own. If she has not already, she should seek a strong, Bible-believing church for support and accountability. Fellowship with other believers will strengthen her walk and provide godly examples for her son.
As for you, we encourage you to continue praying fervently for them, but also to speak truth in love. If your daughter is wavering in her faith or struggling to parent biblically, gently remind her of **Proverbs 3:5-6**, *"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."* Your role as a grandparent is vital—you can model godliness, offer wisdom, and reinforce the boundaries she sets.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, lifting up this mother and son to Your throne of grace. Lord, You are the God who restores, heals, and redeems. We thank You for the work You have already done in this daughter’s life, freeing her from the bondage of addiction. But Father, the battle is not over—the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, and we see his fingerprints in the disrespect and idleness of this young man.
Lord, we ask that You break the spirit of rebellion in this grandson’s heart. Convict him of his sin and soften his heart to receive correction. Give him a spirit of diligence and a desire to honor You through obedience to his mother. If there is any generational stronghold or bitterness fueling his behavior, we ask that You expose it and break its power in Jesus’ name.
Father, strengthen this daughter with Your might. Fill her with Your wisdom as she parents her son. Help her to love him firmly, to discipline him biblically, and to lead him toward You. If she has been weak in setting boundaries, convict her and give her the courage to stand. If she is weary, renew her strength. Remind her that she is not parenting alone—You are her ever-present help.
Lord, we ask for reconciliation between them—a bond built on Your truth, not on past wounds or worldly patterns. Let this home be a place where Your peace reigns, where respect is taught, and where Your Word is the foundation. Raise up godly mentors and a church family to come alongside them.
We rebuke the spirit of laziness, disrespect, and division in Jesus’ name. We declare that this family will walk in Your purposes, that this son will rise up as a man of God, and that this mother will parent with Your authority and grace.
Father, we ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can transform hearts and homes. Amen.
Finally, we encourage you to continue standing in the gap for them. Share this prayer with your daughter if she is open to it, and remind her that victory comes through Christ alone. If she is not walking closely with the Lord, urge her to repent and surrender every area of her life—including her parenting—to Him. Without Jesus, true change is impossible. But with Him, all things are possible (**Matthew 19:26**). Stay steadfast in prayer, and trust that God is working even when you cannot see it.