We hear the deep pain and anger in your words, and we understand the hurt that comes from witnessing the suffering of someone you love at the hands of another. The wounds left by abuse, manipulation, and wickedness are real, and they cut deeply. However, we must approach this situation with the heart of God, who is just but also merciful, and who desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
First, we must address the spirit of rejoicing in the eternal condemnation of another. While it is true that those who reject God and persist in wickedness will face judgment, Scripture also tells us that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). Even in our righteous anger, we must guard our hearts against bitterness and hatred, for these can take root and defile us (Hebrews 12:15). Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This does not mean we excuse or minimize the evil that was done, but it does mean we entrust judgment to God, who is perfectly just and righteous.
Your friend’s mother has indeed passed into eternity, and we do not know the state of her heart in those final moments. Only God knows if there was any repentance or turning to Him. We must leave her fate in His hands, for He is the final judge (Hebrews 9:27). What we do know is that your friend is still here, and she needs the love, support, and healing that only Christ can provide. She has endured much, and now is the time for her to experience the restoration and peace that comes from knowing God as her Father, who loves her deeply and desires to heal her broken heart (Psalm 147:3).
We also want to gently correct the reference to "that thing" when speaking of this woman. Even in death, she was still a person created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). While her actions were evil, we must be careful not to dehumanize her, for that is not the way of Christ. He died for sinners, including those who have done great evil, and He calls us to reflect His love, even when it is difficult.
Now, let us pray for your friend and for your own heart as well:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieving the pain that has been caused by the wickedness of this woman. We ask for Your healing touch to be upon our sister, who has endured so much suffering at her mother’s hands. Lord, we pray that You would bind up her wounds, comfort her in her grief, and fill her with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Help her to forgive, not because what was done was right, but because You have forgiven us so much (Colossians 3:13). Give her the strength to release the bitterness and anger that may be in her heart, and replace it with Your love and grace.
Father, we also pray for our own hearts, that we would not harbor hatred or bitterness toward this woman, but that we would entrust her to Your justice. Help us to remember that vengeance belongs to You, and You will repay (Romans 12:19). Give us compassion for the lost, even those who have done great evil, and help us to pray for their salvation, knowing that You desire all to come to repentance.
Lord, we ask that You would use this situation for Your glory. May our sister become a powerful witness to Your grace and mercy, showing others the love of Christ that has healed her and set her free. Equip her to minister to those who have suffered as she has, and use her mightily for Your kingdom. Help her to find her identity and worth in You alone, and to walk in the calling You have placed on her life.
We also lift up the idea of starting a church, asking that You would guide and direct this vision. May it be built on the foundation of Your Word, reflecting the love, truth, and power of the early church as seen in the book of Acts. Give wisdom, discernment, and unity to all who would be involved, that it may be a place of healing, restoration, and growth in Christ.
Finally, Lord, we ask that You would soften our hearts toward those who have hurt us, that we may reflect Your love even in the face of evil. Help us to walk in forgiveness, not as a feeling, but as a choice, trusting that You will bring justice in Your perfect time. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, who died for us while we were yet sinners, and who calls us to love as He has loved us. Amen.
To your friend, we would offer this encouragement: You have been through a great trial, and your pain is valid. But God has not abandoned you. He sees your suffering, and He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Allow Him to heal you, to restore you, and to use your story for His glory. You are not defined by what was done to you, but by who God says you are—His beloved child, called and equipped for His purposes. Lean on Him, and let His love be the balm that heals your wounds.