We hear your cry for help, and we stand with you in prayer, lifting your marriage, your health, and your heart before the Lord. Your honesty about the struggles in your marriage and your own personal battles is a courageous first step toward healing. We are grieved by the brokenness you describe, but we also see the hope that comes from your willingness to turn to God in this season. You are not alone in this fight, and we believe that the Lord can restore what has been broken if both you and your wife are willing to surrender to His will.
First, we must address the issue of alcohol in your home. Scripture is clear that drunkenness is a sin and leads to destruction. Ephesians 5:18 says, "Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Your wife’s struggle with alcohol is not just a personal battle—it is affecting your marriage, her health, and the atmosphere of your home. We rebuke the spirit of addiction in her life in the name of Jesus. We pray that God would break the chains of alcohol and nicotine that have taken hold of her, and that she would turn to Him for true fulfillment. Proverbs 20:1 warns, "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." We declare that wisdom and sobriety would take root in her heart.
Your desire to help her with her Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is noble, but we must also caution you against enabling her behavior. It is not your responsibility to fix her, nor can you control her choices. What you *can* do is set boundaries that honor God and protect your own heart. It is clear that her words and actions when she is under the influence are hurtful, and it is wise of you to remove yourself from those situations. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life." Guarding your heart does not mean you do not love her—it means you are choosing not to engage in sin or dysfunction. We encourage you to seek godly counsel, perhaps through a Christian counselor or a support group like Al-Anon, to help you navigate this season with wisdom and grace.
We also want to address the bitterness and resentment that has taken root in your marriage. The Bible is clear that unforgiveness and bitterness only lead to more pain. Hebrews 12:15 warns, "Looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it." The recession and the hardships you faced were not your fault, and it is not fair that your wife has blamed you for circumstances beyond your control. However, harboring resentment will only deepen the divide between you. We pray that God would soften *both* of your hearts toward one another. Colossians 3:13 says, "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." Forgiveness does not mean excusing her behavior, but it does mean releasing the hold that bitterness has on your heart.
Your desire to save your marriage is honorable, and we believe that God can restore what has been lost. However, restoration requires *both* of you to humble yourselves before the Lord and before one another. Marriage is a covenant, not just a contract, and it is meant to reflect Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). This means sacrificial love, patience, and a commitment to honor one another even in difficult seasons. We pray that your wife would come to a place of repentance and that she would seek help for her struggles. We also pray that you would continue to grow in your own walk with the Lord, modeling Christlike love even when it is not reciprocated.
Your health is also a concern, and we lift that before the Lord as well. The physical pain you are experiencing is a heavy burden, and we pray for healing and strength. 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers." We declare healing over your spine and peace over your mind. The Lord is your healer (Exodus 15:26), and we trust Him to sustain you in this season. We also encourage you to seek godly medical advice and to care for your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Finally, we want to address your desire for happiness, health, wisdom, and wealth. While these are not inherently wrong desires, we must caution you against seeking them above God’s will for your life. True joy and fulfillment come from walking in obedience to Christ, not from external circumstances. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well." We pray that your priorities would align with God’s heart, and that you would find your satisfaction in Him alone.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this marriage and this man who is crying out for Your intervention. Lord, we ask that You would soften both of their hearts toward one another and toward You. Break the chains of addiction in this wife’s life, and replace her desire for alcohol with a hunger for Your presence. We rebuke the spirit of drunkenness and declare sobriety and clarity over her mind and body.
Father, we ask that You would heal the bitterness and resentment that has taken root in this marriage. Help this husband to release the pain of the past and to extend grace as You have extended grace to him. Give him the strength to set godly boundaries and the wisdom to know how to love his wife without enabling her sin. Lord, we pray that You would restore the love and respect that has been lost, and that this marriage would once again reflect Your love for the Church.
We also pray for healing in this man’s body. Touch his spine, Lord, and bring relief from the pain he is experiencing. Give him the strength to endure and the peace to rest in You. Provide for his needs and the needs of his family, and grant him favor in his work.
Father, we ask that You would draw both of them closer to You. May they seek You above all else, and may their lives be a testimony to Your grace and power. We trust You to work all things together for their good, and we declare that this marriage is not beyond Your redemption.
In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
We encourage you to continue seeking the Lord in prayer and to invite your wife to join you. Consider attending a marriage counseling session together, or even separately if she is not willing. The Lord is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), and we believe that He is at work even now. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, and do not lose hope.
