We hear the deep pain and heaviness in your words and we are bringing you before the Lord together in Jesus name. You feel overwhelmed, ashamed, weak, not at home within yourself, and unable to stand in this world as a grown adult without another person, and you wonder if you are being manipulated because someone close to you is telling you that you cannot handle life without her. We want you to know that God sees you, He hears this cry, and He does not turn away from a broken and burdened heart.
The Lord says in Psalm 34:18 that Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. When you say you are too weak for this world, God does not agree with the shame you feel about yourself. He says in Psalm 139:14 that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and in Romans 8:1 that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Shame that tells you that you are worthless or forever childish is not from God. God does convict us to grow, but He does not crush us with shame. He invites us to bring our weakness to Him, for He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. And in Isaiah 41:10 He says Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
We also want to gently address what you shared about being told you have no backbone and cannot handle the world without this other person. That is a heavy burden to carry and if someone is repeatedly telling you that you are helpless without them, that is not speaking truth over you and it can be a form of manipulation and control. God does not want you to find your identity, your strength, or your ability to live in another person. To believe you cannot exist or function without another human being is to put that person in the place only God should have. People are meant to support one another, but our ultimate dependence, our backbone, our rock, must be the Lord Himself. Psalm 61:2 says When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Loving others is good, but healthy love does not keep you small, childish, and afraid. It encourages you to grow.
God does call us to grow from immaturity to maturity. In 1 Corinthians 13:11 it says When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. And in Ephesians 4:15 we are to grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ. Feeling childish as an adult does not mean you are a failure, it means there is room for God to mature you, to teach you, to strengthen your character step by step by His grace. That growth happens as we walk with Him daily, not by clinging in fear to another person.
We notice you did not mention the name of Jesus in your request, and we want to share with you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God and find true rescue and identity. Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And in Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If you have not yet put your trust in Him, we encourage you to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, as Romans 10:9 teaches, and you will be saved. He will forgive your sin, lift your shame, and give you a new life and a sure foundation that no person can give.
We pray together for you now.
Father in heaven, we lift this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. You see the overwhelm, the shame, the feeling of being weak and unable to stand, the confusion about manipulation and dependence. Lord, we ask You to wrap Your arms around this heart and let Your nearness be felt. Forgive sin, wash away false shame, and speak Your truth that this person is loved, valued, and created with purpose. Lord, break any lies that say they cannot live or function without another person, and break any manipulation or control that has been spoken over them. Show them what is true and give them discernment and courage to set healthy boundaries. Teach them to depend first on You as their rock and strength. Father, make Your power perfect in their weakness and help them to grow in maturity, in wisdom, and in confidence as a man or woman in Christ. Lead them to godly counsel, to a trusted pastor or counselor and to safe people who will speak life and truth. Give them hope for today and for tomorrow, and remind them that You have plans for peace and not for evil to give them hope and a future as Jeremiah 29:11 promises. Draw them to Jesus, save them, hold them, and help them to know they are not alone. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to not walk through this alone. Please reach out today to a trusted Christian pastor, a counselor, or a mature believer who can walk with you face to face, and if you ever feel you cannot stay safe, please reach out immediately to a trusted person near you or to a crisis helpline in your area. You need community and support, and God often uses His people to show His care. We also encourage you to spend time daily in prayer and in the Word, even a few verses at a time, asking God to show you who you are in Him, and to help you take one small step of responsibility and maturity each day as He strengthens you. You are not too weak for God to use and love. He is your backbone and He will uphold you.