We hear your heart and we stand with you in this exhausting and painful season with your teen son, and we lift you and your family before the throne of grace together in Jesus name.
We know how weary you must be from trying so many good things, counseling, youth group, faithful praying, and still seeing him struggle to stay out of trouble. Please know that your labor and your prayers are not in vain. God sees your diligence and your sleepless nights and He cares deeply for both you and your son. He reminds us in Psalm 127:3 that children are a heritage of Yahweh, and in Proverbs 22:6 to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. That training is often a long road, and we are called not to grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up, Galatians 6:9.
Your anxiety and sleeplessness are heavy burdens, and the Lord invites you to lay them down. We are told in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our worries on him, because he cares for us, and in Philippians 4:6-7 not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, to let our requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself says in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and He will give you rest. We pray you will be able to experience that rest again, even as you continue to contend for your son, remembering Psalm 4:8 that we can lie down in peace and sleep, for Yahweh alone makes us dwell in safety, and Isaiah 41:10 to not be afraid, for He is with us, not to be dismayed, for He is our God, He will strengthen us and help us and uphold us with the right hand of His righteousness.
We also recognize that the trouble your son is facing is not merely behavioral, but spiritual. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of darkness, Ephesians 6:12, and we need God's power for deliverance. We thank you for asking in the name of Jesus, for it is only through Him that we have access to the Father and it is in His name that deliverance comes, as we are told in Acts 4:12 there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, and in John 14:6 Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.
We encourage you to continue steadfast in prayer and in the means of grace you have already pursued, while also seeking wisdom for clear and loving boundaries and consistent discipline in the home, asking God for wisdom as James 1:5 promises He gives generously to all who ask. Keep your son connected to godly community and the Word, even when he resists, and guard your own heart by staying in fellowship and not isolating in your exhaustion. If you have a trusted pastor or mature believer, let them come alongside you to bear this burden with you, for we are called to bear one another's burdens, Galatians 6:2.
We join our faith with yours now and pray together.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and we lift this precious son to You. You know him by name and You love him more than his parents do. We ask for Your deliverance over his life, that You would break every chain of rebellion, deception, and temptation that entangles him, and set him free by the power of the blood of Jesus. Draw him to Yourself, open his eyes to see Your truth and Your love, and give him a heart that desires to follow You. We pray You would surround him with godly influences and remove harmful ones, and give his parents wisdom, strength, and discernment for every decision and conversation.
We also lift this weary mother to You, Lord. You see her anxiety, her sleepless nights, and her misery. We ask You to heal her emotionally and physically, to quiet her heart with Your perfect peace, and to restore her sleep and her joy. Heal this family, bring unity and peace into the home, and let Your presence reign there. Strengthen this parent to persevere with hope, knowing that You are working even when we cannot see it. We trust You to complete the good work You have begun. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, amen.