We understand the deep weariness that comes from repeatedly facing hurt and disappointment at the hands of others, and we commend your recognition that not everyone deserves a place in your heart or your peace. The Scriptures remind us that there is a time to guard our hearts and a time to walk away from those who bring only strife. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns us, *"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."* There is wisdom in discerning when to disengage from those who are toxic, unrepentant, or simply unwilling to change. Not every battle is yours to fight, and not every person is worth the cost of your emotional and spiritual well-being.
However, we must also be careful not to harden our hearts in the process. While it is true that some people are "hopeless" in the sense that they refuse to change or acknowledge their wrongdoing, our call as believers is not to write them off entirely but to release them to God. Romans 12:18 instructs us, *"If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men."* This doesn’t mean we subject ourselves to repeated harm, but it does mean we do not let bitterness take root. Ephesians 4:31-32 urges us, *"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you."*
The pain you’ve experienced is real, and the Lord sees it. He is the one who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). But we must be cautious not to let our pain turn into cynicism or a refusal to love at all. Jesus Himself was betrayed, mocked, and rejected, yet He prayed for His enemies (Luke 23:34) and calls us to do the same (Matthew 5:44). This doesn’t mean you trust everyone or open yourself up to repeated harm, but it does mean you release them to God’s justice and mercy rather than carrying the weight of resentment.
Let us also consider whether there is a deeper wound here—perhaps a fear of being hurt again, or a sense of powerlessness in the face of others’ actions. If so, we encourage you to bring this before the Lord. He is your refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), and He can restore your trust in His sovereignty, even when people fail you. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, *"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."*
We notice that your request does not invoke the name of Jesus, and we gently but firmly remind you that there is no true peace, healing, or protection outside of Him. Jesus said in John 14:6, *"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."* It is only through His name that we have access to the Father (John 16:23) and the power to overcome the wounds of this world. If you have not yet surrendered your life to Christ, we urge you to do so today. Confess your sins, believe in His death and resurrection for your salvation, and invite Him to be Lord of your life. There is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12), and it is only in Him that we find the strength to forgive, to let go, and to walk in freedom.
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Let us pray together for you:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our sister before You, knowing that You see every tear she has shed and every wound she has carried. Lord, You are the God who binds up the brokenhearted and sets the captive free. We ask that You would minister to her spirit right now—where there is pain, bring Your healing; where there is bitterness, bring Your forgiveness; where there is fear, bring Your perfect love that casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).
Father, grant her the wisdom to discern when to engage and when to walk away, as Jesus did. Help her to release those who have hurt her into Your hands, trusting that You will deal with them justly and mercifully. Guard her heart, Lord, from becoming hardened or cynical. Fill her instead with Your peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and remind her that her worth is found in You alone, not in the approval or actions of others.
If there is any unforgiveness or resentment lingering in her heart, we ask that You would soften her and give her the grace to forgive, just as You have forgiven her. Teach her to love as You love—with boundaries, with wisdom, but also with a heart that remains open to Your leading.
Finally, Lord, if our sister does not yet know You as her Savior, we pray that You would reveal Yourself to her in a powerful way. Open her eyes to see that Jesus is the only source of true peace, the only one who can heal her deepest wounds, and the only name by which she can be saved. Draw her to Yourself, Father, and let her find her rest in You.
We pray all these things in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.