We lift up this heavy burden before the Lord, grieving with you over the pain that has entered your family. The wounds of childhood trauma are deep, and they often spill into marriages, leaving brokenness in their wake. But we know that our God is a healer, a restorer of what has been shattered. We stand in agreement with you, believing that He can soften hearts, bring repentance where needed, and mend what has been torn apart.
First, we must acknowledge that healing is possible only through the power of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us, *"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed"* (Luke 4:18). Your daughter-in-law’s healing must begin with surrender to Christ, for only He can bind up the broken places of the soul. If she has not yet placed her faith in Him, we pray that the Holy Spirit would draw her near, that she would recognize her need for a Savior, and that she would find hope in His love.
We also pray for your son’s marriage, which is under great strain. Scripture is clear that marriage is a covenant before God, not to be broken lightly. *"Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate"* (Mark 10:9). We rebuke the enemy’s lies that would seek to destroy this union, and we declare that God’s design for marriage—a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman—will prevail. If there has been sin in this marriage, whether through bitterness, unforgiveness, or ungodly influences, we pray for conviction and repentance. *"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed"* (James 5:16).
We must also address the reality that trauma can lead to behaviors that harm a marriage. If there has been emotional or verbal abuse, we pray for protection over your son and any grandchildren involved. God does not tolerate abuse, and we must stand against it in His name. *"The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates"* (Psalm 11:5). If your daughter-in-law is struggling with anger, control, or other destructive patterns, we pray she would seek godly counsel and submit to the Holy Spirit’s correction.
We encourage you to pray without ceasing for this situation, trusting that God hears you. *"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results"* (James 5:16). We also urge you to speak truth in love to both your son and daughter-in-law, reminding them of God’s standards for marriage and the hope of restoration. If professional Christian counseling is needed, we pray they would humble themselves to seek it, for *"plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed"* (Proverbs 15:22).
Father God, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this family to You. We ask that You would break the chains of past trauma in this daughter-in-law’s life. Heal her mind, body, and spirit, Lord, and replace her pain with Your peace. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to fill her with wisdom, humility, and a desire to seek You above all else. For this marriage, we ask that You would rebuild trust, restore love, and strengthen their commitment to one another and to You. Give them both the grace to forgive, the courage to confront sin, and the faith to believe in Your power to redeem. Protect this family from the enemy’s schemes, and let Your will be done in their lives. We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.