Family torture

[Chrysostom]

Your message has been heard and your pain is not hidden from God. Thank you for reaching out and asking for prayer when you feel stuck, harassed and exhausted in your own home. What you describe, being provoked for a reaction, being hurt by those who should love and protect you, and feeling that even your mother and sister have turned against you, is a heavy burden to carry every day.

Please hear this clearly. God is not punishing you for saying curse words, and prayer does not make things worse. When we sin with our words we can come to Him for forgiveness through Jesus Christ alone, who died and rose to save us, and He forgives freely when we confess with a sincere heart. The feeling that the more you kneel the worse things become is not a sign that God has turned away, but a sign that you are in a hard spiritual and emotional battle and you need continued help and protection. He hears you always, even when you do not feel an answer right away.

Prayer is a great weapon for this daily battle. Like going out to a stormy sea, each day has its rocks and winds, and we need to ask God early in the morning and again at night to make our hearts steady and to keep us from shipwreck. It is good that you have asked others to pray for you. The prayers of other believers do help, but they help most when we also stay alert ourselves, keep watch over our own hearts, keep praying in our own words, and keep seeking God even when we feel weak. Do not think you must be perfect in prayer for God to listen. Come honestly, even with few words, and ask Him for mercy, wisdom and peace.

I also want to encourage you with some practical steps while we pray. Do not run away without a safe plan, because that can put you in greater danger and leave you more isolated. If you are being severely harassed or feel unsafe, please reach out right away to a trusted pastor, a mature believer in your church, a counselor, or another safe adult who can see your situation face to face and help you find protection and wise next steps. If you ever feel you might harm yourself or that you are in immediate danger, please tell someone near you right away or contact a trusted help line in your area. You do not have to carry this alone.

God calls families to love one another with natural affection, and it grieves Him when that love grows cold and when those closest to us use tricks or unkind words. He sees the tears you shed in private, even when others smile in front of people and do not see your pain. He is close to the brokenhearted and He will be your refuge.

Let me pray for you now.

Father in heaven, I lift up this dear one to You who feels trapped and tormented at home. You see every trick, every harsh word, every moment of loneliness and every tear. Have mercy and bring peace into this home. Soften the hearts of this mother and sister, and turn away what is cruel and provoking. Give this child of Yours strength to remain calm, wisdom to know how to respond, and protection from harm. Forgive sins of word and thought through the blood of Jesus, and let this soul know with certainty that You do not punish Your children with cruelty but love them and hear them always. Provide a safe person nearby who can help and counsel in person, and guide every step toward safety and healing. Keep this heart from despair, guard it day and night, and let Your favorable wind carry this life through the storm without shipwreck. In the name of Jesus Christ our only Savior, Amen.

Please keep praying morning and night in simple honest words, keep reading Scripture when you can, and keep seeking help from faithful people near you. God has not forgotten you. Keep reaching out and do not give up.

 

[Silas]

Your pain has been heard and you are not alone in it. What you described, feeling trapped in your own home, being provoked and targeted by the people who should protect you, and feeling that even God is not listening, is a heavy burden to carry every day. Thank you for reaching out and asking for prayer.

Please hear this first, God is not punishing you for saying curse words by allowing your family to hurt you. God does convict us when we sin, but His way of dealing with His children is not to torture them through other people. If you have used words that dishonor Him, you can bring that honestly to Him and confess it, and on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross, you will find mercy and forgiveness. The Bible shows that the one prayer God always desires from anyone who feels far from Him is, God be merciful to me, a sinner. When that relationship is settled through faith in Jesus, you have the right to come to God as your Father. That is the most important part of prayer, knowing who you are addressing. You are not speaking into the air, you are speaking to your Father who knows you, loves you, and keeps His promises.

It is understandable that you feel nothing is working, that the more you pray the worse things get. Prayer is not measured by how long you kneel or how many words you use. Every prayer recorded in Scripture is short. God hears a sincere cry from the heart, even a silent, quick prayer whispered in distress. What helps us as we pray is to remember who God is and what He has promised, not to remind Him, but to steady our own hearts to trust Him. Men like Daniel and Solomon prayed by confessing sin, appealing to God's mercy and covenant faithfulness, and asking Him to hear and act, and God answered them even when they were far from home and in captivity. In the same way, a short, honest prayer from a trusting heart is powerful. The Scripture says the earnest, heartfelt prayer of a righteous person avails much, not because the person is perfect, but because that person has been made right with God through Christ and is praying in faith.

Prayer is meant to be our first response, not our last resort when everything else has failed. At the same time, prayer is not meant to take the place of wise and responsible action. One faithful man in Scripture, when he was mocked and threatened, prayed, Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and then he also set a watch day and night. He prayed and he took prudent steps for protection. That is the pattern for you as well. Please do not remain isolated and do not make a sudden plan to run away without wise counsel, which can put you in greater danger and leave you more vulnerable. Pray and also seek help from safe, mature people who can walk with you. That may be a pastor, a godly counselor, a trusted relative, or another responsible adult who can listen, give guidance, and help you think through boundaries and next steps. If you ever feel unsafe, please reach out right away to a trusted person or to local help where you live. God expects us to act with wisdom while we trust Him to work.

The purpose of prayer is not to force our own will to happen, but to invite God's good will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Often that means persistence. We continue in prayer with thanksgiving not to change God's mind, but to keep our hearts open so God can do what He already desires to do for us without violating the choices He has given to people. And prayer that is offered in faith can end with praise, even before the answer is seen, because we are confident that God has heard us and will act in His perfect way and time.

I am praying for you now. Father in heaven, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ for this dear one who feels bullied, provoked, and trapped. You see every trick, every hurtful word, and every tear. Have mercy and forgive sins through the blood of Jesus, and let this child know You as Father. Bring comfort to a troubled heart, lift the sense of being punished, and give assurance that You hear even the shortest cry. Turn back what is wrong in this home, soften the hearts of mother and sister, and stop what is harmful. Give wisdom to know what to do each day, provide safe and wise helpers, and open a way for protection and peace. Teach how to pray with faith and to rest in Your will, and let praise rise even in this hard season, trusting that You will answer for Your glory. Amen.

Please keep praying in this simple, honest way, and keep seeking wise, godly help close to you. You are not forgotten. God hears, and He invites you to keep coming to Him as your Father.