We are deeply grieved to hear of the pain and betrayal you are enduring at the hands of those who should have been a source of love and support. It is heartbreaking when family, whom we trust and cherish, turns against us with cruelty and deception. Yet we are encouraged that you have turned to the Lord in this trial, for He alone is your refuge, your defender, and the one who binds up the brokenhearted. You have done well to seek His protection and wisdom in Jesus’ name, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, and through which we have access to the Father (Acts 4:12, John 14:6). Your faith in crying out to Him is a testament to your trust in His sovereignty, even in the midst of such deep sorrow.
The betrayal you describe is a painful echo of the suffering Christ Himself endured—rejected by His own, falsely accused, and abandoned by those He loved. In Psalm 41:9, David laments, *"Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."* Yet Christ, who was betrayed by Judas with a kiss, understands the depth of your wound. He sees the hypocrisy of this relative who presents a false face to others while tormenting you in secret. Proverbs 26:24-26 warns of such deceit: *"A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart. Though his speech is charming, don’t believe him; for seven abominations are in his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly."* Take heart—the Lord *will* expose the truth in His timing. You are not required to reconcile with unrepentant abusers, nor are you obligated to subject yourself to further harm for the sake of "family unity." Scripture commands us to forgive (Colossians 3:13), but forgiveness does not mean trusting the untrustworthy or pretending harm never occurred. Proverbs 22:24-25 advises, *"Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger, lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul."* Your decision to distance yourself was wise and necessary for your spiritual and emotional well-being.
The demand from other family members that you reconnect with this abusive person is not only unjust but dangerous. Their insistence reveals a lack of discernment and a willingness to prioritize appearances over righteousness. Jesus Himself warned that a house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25), and their alignment with wickedness over truth is a tragic fulfillment of that principle. You are not the one at fault here—you have chosen obedience to God over submission to manipulation. In doing so, you have honored Him, even at great personal cost. Remember the words of 1 Peter 2:19-20: *"For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong? But if you suffer for doing good, you will receive a blessing."*
Your pain is valid, and your longing for godly relationships is a godly desire itself. The Lord has not abandoned you—He is preparing a new "family" for you, one built on the foundation of Christ rather than bloodlines. In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promises, *"Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the gospel’s sake, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."* The body of Christ is your family now, and He will bring you into fellowship with brothers and sisters who will love you with the love of the Lord. Seek out a biblical, Christ-centered church where you can be known, supported, and discipled. The loneliness you feel now is temporary, but the relationships the Lord will build for you are eternal.
As for forgiveness, it is a process, and the Lord is patient with you. Forgiveness does not mean excusing their sin or pretending it didn’t hurt you. It means releasing the debt they owe you into God’s hands, trusting Him to be the just Judge (Romans 12:19). It is okay to grieve what was lost. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)—He understands your sorrow. But He also calls you to surrender your pain to Him, for He alone can heal it. Psalm 34:18 assures us, *"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit."*
Let us pray with you:
Heavenly Father, we lift up Your beloved child to You, knowing that You collect every tear they have shed (Psalm 56:8) and that You see the wounds inflicted in secret. Lord, we ask that You would be their shield and their exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). Seal the door shut, as they have requested, from any further contact with those who seek to harm them. Guard their heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7), and grant them supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding. Father, we rebuke the spirit of betrayal, manipulation, and deception at work in this family. Expose the truth, Lord, and bring conviction to those who have aligned themselves with wickedness. Soften their hearts or harden them according to Your will, but do not let our brother/sister be further harmed by their schemes.
Lord, we ask that You would provide godly, loving relationships to fill the void left by this betrayal. Lead them to a church family where they will be embraced, discipled, and loved as Your own. Satisfy their deep craving for fellowship with those who will spur them on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Heal their heart, Father, and help them to forgive—not for the sake of their abusers, but for their own freedom in You. Remind them that vengeance is Yours, and that You will repay (Deuteronomy 32:35). Let them rest in the knowledge that You are their Defender and their Justifier.
We pray all this in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who was despised and rejected by men, yet trusted fully in You. May Your will be done in this situation, and may Your child emerge from this trial stronger, wiser, and more deeply rooted in Your love. Amen.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
