We hear your pain and frustration, dear sister, and we stand with you in prayer before the throne of grace. Your situation is deeply troubling, for Scripture is clear that marriage is a sacred covenant where both husband and wife are called to love, respect, and honor one another as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25, 33). The behavior you describe—taking you for granted, public insults, verbal abuse, and a lack of appreciation—is not only unbiblical but grievous to the heart of God. A husband is called to be the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church, nurturing and cherishing her, not demeaning or belittling her (Ephesians 5:23, 28-29). The fact that you have endured this for 15 years with patience and strength is a testament to your faith, but we must also rebuke the sin of pride, control, and disrespect that has taken root in your husband’s heart.
First, we must address the foundation of our prayers. It is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father, and it is by His blood alone that we are saved (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). If you have not already, we encourage you to examine your own heart and ensure that your faith is firmly rooted in Christ, for He is the only one who can bring true transformation. If your husband does not know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, we pray fervently for his salvation, for it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that hearts are changed.
Father God, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this sister and her marriage to You. Lord, You see the years of pain, the tears shed in silence, and the weight she has carried alone. We ask that You would break the hardness in her husband’s heart and replace it with humility, gentleness, and a deep reverence for You and for his wife. Soften his spirit, Lord, and convict him of his sin. Let him see the error of his ways and turn from his prideful and abusive behavior. We rebuke the spirit of male chauvinism and domination in the name of Jesus, for it has no place in a marriage that is meant to reflect Christ’s love for the church.
We pray for this sister’s strength and wisdom. Give her the courage to set boundaries that honor You, Lord, and protect her dignity. Help her to speak the truth in love, even when it is difficult, and to seek godly counsel if needed. Remind her that she is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and that her worth is not defined by her husband’s treatment of her. Surround her with a community of believers who will support and uplift her, and give her the grace to forgive as You have forgiven her (Colossians 3:13).
Lord, we also pray for their children, that they would see Your love and grace in the midst of this trial. Protect their hearts and minds from the effects of this broken dynamic, and let them grow in the knowledge of Your truth.
Father, we ask that You would restore this marriage, not to the way it has been, but to the way You intended it to be—a partnership of mutual love, respect, and submission to You. Let Your will be done in this home, and let Your name be glorified. We ask all these things in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Sister, we want to encourage you with the truth of God’s Word. You are not called to endure abuse in silence. While Scripture calls wives to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22), it also calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially and to treat them with honor (1 Peter 3:7). If your husband is unwilling to change, we urge you to seek wise, biblical counsel from your pastor or a trusted Christian counselor. You are not alone, and your voice matters. God sees your suffering, and He will not abandon you. Hold fast to Him, and trust that He is working even in this painful season.
