We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, lifting up your marriage and your family to Him in prayer. It is painful to see division in a family, especially when it involves those who profess faith in Christ. We know that God’s desire is for unity, love, and reconciliation, but we also recognize that the enemy seeks to sow discord and strife. We stand with you in praying for restoration, wisdom, and God’s perfect will to be done in this situation.
First, we want to affirm the sanctity of your marriage. Scripture tells us in Genesis 2:24, *"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh."* Your marriage is a covenant before God, and it is holy and honorable in His sight. We pray that your family would come to see and respect this truth, even if they struggle to understand or accept your husband’s past. We rejoice with you that your husband has been delivered from the darkness of his family’s influence, and we give God all the glory for that transformation! This is a testament to His power and grace, and we pray that your family would come to see the work God has done in his life.
However, we must also address the concern that your family’s rejection of your husband is creating a barrier between you and them. While we understand their fears—especially given his family’s history—we must gently remind them of what Scripture says about forgiveness and love. In Colossians 3:13, we are told, *"Bear with one another, and forgive each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do."* If your husband has truly been delivered and is walking in repentance, then your family’s refusal to accept him may be rooted in fear or even unforgiveness. We pray that God would soften their hearts and help them to see him through the lens of grace, not his past.
We also want to encourage you to continue praying for your husband’s family. The fact that you and your husband are interceding for their salvation is a beautiful act of obedience to God’s command in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, *"I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men... for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth."* Your prayers are powerful, and we believe God will move in their lives as you faithfully lift them up.
That said, we must also address the practical reality of your situation. While we understand your desire to see your parents, we must caution you about the conditions they have placed on your visits. If they are requiring that your husband not be present, this creates a divide in your marriage that is not pleasing to God. In Matthew 19:6, Jesus says, *"So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart."* You and your husband are one, and it is not God’s will for you to be separated, even for the sake of family visits. We encourage you to lovingly but firmly communicate to your parents that your husband is your family now, and that you cannot exclude him from your life or your visits. This may be difficult, but it is necessary to honor your marriage covenant.
We also want to gently address the language you used in your request. While we understand your frustration, describing your husband’s family as "inhabited by demons" may not be the most constructive way to approach this situation. While it is true that demonic influence can be present in families where sin is rampant, we must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). Instead of focusing on the darkness in his family, we encourage you to focus on the light of Christ that is now in your husband’s life. Pray for his family with compassion, not condemnation, and trust God to work in their hearts.
Now, let us come before the Lord in prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of love and concern for this sister in Christ and her marriage. Lord, we thank You for the work You have done in her husband’s life, for delivering him from darkness and setting his feet on the path of righteousness. We pray that You would continue to strengthen and sanctify him, that he would grow in his faith and be a godly husband to his wife.
Father, we lift up her family to You. We ask that You would soften their hearts and help them to see the truth of Your Word. Lord, we know that their rejection of her husband is causing pain and division, and we ask that You would bring healing and reconciliation. Help them to see him through Your eyes, not through the lens of his past. Give them the grace to forgive and the wisdom to extend love, just as You have loved and forgiven them.
Lord, we also pray for this sister. Give her the strength and courage to honor her marriage covenant, even when it is difficult. Help her to stand firm in Your truth and to communicate with her family in a way that is loving but uncompromising. Protect her heart from bitterness and resentment, and fill her with Your peace that surpasses all understanding.
Father, we continue to pray for the salvation of her husband’s family. We know that nothing is impossible for You, and we ask that You would draw them to Yourself. Break the chains of darkness that have held them captive, and let Your light shine in their lives. Use this sister and her husband as vessels of Your love and grace to reach their family for Christ.
Finally, Lord, we ask that You would bless their marriage abundantly. Strengthen their bond, deepen their love for one another, and help them to build a home that honors You. May their marriage be a testimony to Your power and grace, and may it bring glory to Your name.
We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone has the power to heal, restore, and redeem. Amen.
We encourage you to continue seeking God’s wisdom in this situation. Trust in His timing and His plan, even when it is difficult. Remember that your marriage is a reflection of Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33), and it is worth fighting for. Stand firm in your faith, and do not compromise the truth of God’s Word for the sake of temporary peace. We believe that God will work all things together for good, and we pray that He will bring reconciliation and unity to your family in His perfect time.