Mercy mercy mercy

[Anonymous]

Dear Saints,

I come before you with a heavy heart. I have asked for prayers for my teenage son last year previously when he had got into legal trouble and needed to be in a juvenile detention center for a short while. I really thought the worst was behind him. He is still a teen but considered an adult now and recently he murdered someone. He sat and waited for the police and complied, but when I saw his mug shot I didn’t even recognize him. I thought he was doing better. I have no idea how or when this “person” came about. The victim was a known pedophile and predator, so I’m not sure if this person abused my son in some way or if he saw something. I am definitely not excusing his behavior, but I am just so confused and searching for answers. I believe my son was under the influence of something, drugs, spirits. He is a baptized believer in Christ and came to be baptized around 9 or 10 years old and we have always been in worship services and Bible study whether it be at home or at church. He began to backslide in earlier teen years but as long as he lived with me, he had to attend church, house rules. I don’t know who he is or what has been influencing him but there is an underlying reason I believe because his dad didn’t forge a relationship with him (we divorced when he was 1 year old). I know my son to be living and kind and good with children and people, always liked in school by teachers and students. I’m praying for the victim’s family although I don’t know why this happened but I am also praying for mercy in my son’s sentencing because something has my son’s mind. I tried to do what I could when I noticed he seemed depressed but nothing I did could reach him, no one could get through to him. I know he has to serve time but I know my son needs help and we need to get to the root of the issue. Even now his dad is not interested in interacting with him - that is cruel too. I think he harbors resentment because I left and divorced him after domestic abuse, I think he has taken it out on my son in a neglectful way. Not to make excuses but I’m just trying to make sense of it all.

 

[Articles]

We come before the throne of grace with heavy hearts, lifting up this mother and her son in fervent prayer. The pain and confusion you carry are almost unbearable, and we stand with you in this dark valley, trusting that the Lord sees every tear and hears every cry. Your son’s actions are grievous and cannot be excused, but we recognize the agony of a mother’s love—one that refuses to let go, even when the path ahead seems impossible.

First, we must acknowledge the severity of sin. Murder is a violation of God’s holy commandment: *"You shall not murder"* (Exodus 20:13). The taking of a life, regardless of the victim’s sins, is an affront to the Creator, who alone gives and takes life. Yet we also know that sin—especially when it takes root in a young heart—often has deep and tangled roots. The enemy seeks to devour (1 Peter 5:8), and where there is neglect, abuse, or unaddressed pain, he finds footholds. Your son’s actions suggest a darkness has taken hold of him, whether through substance abuse, spiritual oppression, or unresolved trauma. We must rebuke the spirits of violence, deception, and despair that have warped his mind and heart, declaring in the name of Jesus that they have no place in him.

We also lift up the victim’s family, who are enduring their own unimaginable loss. Even if the victim was guilty of heinous sins, their loved ones did not deserve this pain. We pray for God’s comfort to surround them, for His justice to prevail, and for any seeds of bitterness to be uprooted by His grace. *"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'"* (Romans 12:19).

Your son’s baptism and profession of faith are not lost on us. The Lord does not abandon His children, even when they stray. *"If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself"* (2 Timothy 2:13). But faith requires repentance, and repentance requires a turning away from sin. We pray that the Holy Spirit would convict your son of his need for true repentance—not just remorse over consequences, but a godly sorrow that leads to life (2 Corinthians 7:10). May he fall on his knees before the cross, where mercy and justice meet, and find forgiveness even in the midst of his brokenness.

The absence of his father’s love is a deep wound, one that has festered for years. A father’s neglect can leave a child starving for affirmation, vulnerable to the lies of the enemy. *"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord"* (Ephesians 6:4). The cruelty of his father’s indifference is a sin against both your son and God, and we rebuke the generational curses of abandonment and bitterness that may have taken root. Yet we also know that God is a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), and He can heal what man has broken.

You are right to seek the root of this issue. Depression, substance abuse, and spiritual oppression often mask deeper wounds—unhealed pain, unspoken trauma, or a heart that has hardened over time. Your son needs more than a prison sentence; he needs deliverance, counseling, and a community of believers who will stand in the gap for him. We pray that the Lord would raise up godly men to mentor him, that the chains of addiction and violence would be broken, and that his mind would be renewed by the Word of God.

We also pray for you, dear sister. The weight of this burden is not yours to carry alone. *"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved"* (Psalm 55:22). You have fought for your son, and your love is a testament to the Father’s heart. But you cannot save him—only Jesus can. Release him into God’s hands, trusting that even in prison, the Lord can work miracles. *"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"* (Psalm 34:18).

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts broken for this mother and her son. Lord, we ask for Your mercy to surround them both, even in the midst of this darkness. We rebuke the spirits of violence, addiction, and despair that have taken hold of this young man, and we declare that no weapon formed against him shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Father, we pray for true repentance in his heart—a turning away from sin and a turning toward You. Convict him of his need for You, and let him find forgiveness and restoration at the foot of the cross.

We lift up the victim’s family, Lord. Comfort them in their grief, and let Your justice prevail. Heal their hearts from the pain of this loss, and guard them against bitterness. We pray for the legal proceedings ahead, that Your will would be done, and that Your mercy would temper justice where it is needed.

For this mother, Lord, give her strength. She has carried so much, and we ask that You would sustain her, provide for her, and surround her with a community of believers who will uphold her in prayer. Heal the wounds of her past, and let her find peace in Your presence.

We pray for the father, Lord. Break the hardness of his heart, and let him see the damage of his neglect. May he repent and seek reconciliation, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to honor You.

Finally, Lord, we ask that You would use this tragedy for Your glory. Let lives be changed, hearts be softened, and souls be saved. We trust in Your goodness, even when we cannot see the way forward. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

[bobr69]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[hostadmin]

Dear sister, we're here with you in this heavy moment. We've been thinking about your son and the situation he's in. It's so hard to see our loved ones in trouble, especially when they've made such grave mistakes. We want to encourage you with these words from the Lord:

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)

We know it's hard, but we believe that God is in control. He sees your son, He knows his heart, and He wants the best for him. We're praying that God would soften his heart, that he would turn away from the darkness that's taken hold of him, and find his way back to the light.

We're also praying for you, dear sister. We know you've carried so much, and we want you to know that you're not alone. God is with you, and so are we. We're here to lift you up in prayer, to encourage you, and to remind you that even in the darkest times, God is still on the throne.

Let's keep trusting in Him, together. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

 

[Cinu]

Lord, we pray for this prayer and family for blessings healing and salvation. Heal and bless. May their lives be a praise and glory unto thee.
Come to the Lord's holy presence. Seek him with all your heart. Cling to his Word and meditate on it moment by moment by positive thoughts and joy in the heart (James 1:2-4), knowing that the Lord is good and to him be all the praise. Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Even though life may feel hard, the Lord's hand will be on you, and he will answer in his time. I am praying for you. Amen.

Some resources that might help.

Needs: - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19(KJV)

Salvation: - So they said "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved you and your household." Acts 16:31(NKJV)

Healing: - But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5(NKJV)

Fulfillment by the Holy Spirit: - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6(KJV)

Persecutions: - But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28(KJV)

Help in Prayer

Dwelling and Thriving in God’s grace where everything happens for good (Romans 8:28)

Finding Life and Salvation in Christ: A Roadmap

Pray that the Lord may open the eyes of the nations affected by coronavirus (Specifically forces against God’s people)

sermons

Be a Prayer Warrior: “Praying for others”