We grieve with you in this painful season, and we lift your heart before the Lord, knowing that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). The weight of estrangement, addiction, and now the reality of terminal illness is more than any of us can bear alone—but you are not alone. The Lord sees your sorrow, and He is your strength in this valley. We pray that even in this hard place, you would feel His presence holding you up, for He has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).
The enemy has sought to steal, kill, and destroy through the bondage of drugs, but we stand against that spirit in the name of Jesus. Addiction is a cruel master, but Christ came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18). While your mother’s time may be short, we pray for redemption in these final moments—for the Lord to break every chain of sin and shame, for her to turn to Him in repentance and faith, and for you both to experience the healing only He can bring. There is no sin too great for His mercy, no brokenness too deep for His grace. If she has not yet surrendered her life to Jesus Christ, we urge you to share the Gospel with her gently but boldly. Remind her that eternal life is found in no other name under heaven but His (Acts 4:12), and that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Pray with her, read Scripture over her, and trust the Holy Spirit to work in her heart.
As for you, we pray the Lord would guard your heart from bitterness or unresolved anger. Forgiveness is not excusing the pain caused, but it is releasing the debt to the Lord, who judges justly (Romans 12:19). Jesus commanded us to forgive as we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13), and in doing so, you free yourself from the weight of unforgiveness. This is a time to love as Christ loves—sacrificially, without condition. Even if the past has been marred by sin and brokenness, love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Ask the Lord to help you love her well in these final days, to speak words of life, and to extend the same grace you yourself have received from Him.
We also pray for supernatural strength for you as you navigate the emotional toll of reconnecting. The Lord knows the complexity of your heart—the love for your mother mixed with the pain of the past. He is not surprised by your struggle, and He invites you to cast all your anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7). Lean on Him moment by moment. If you feel overwhelmed, cry out to Him as David did: “My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. I said, ‘Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest’” (Psalm 55:4-6). Yet even in that psalm, David ends with trust: “Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).
Practical steps may help as well. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can support you in prayer and encouragement. If possible, seek godly counseling to process the grief and complexities of reconciliation. And above all, saturate this time in Scripture and prayer. The Word of God is a lamp to your feet in this dark place (Psalm 119:105).
Now, let us pray together for you and your mother:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up our brother who is walking through such a painful season. Lord, You are the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), and we ask that You would wrap Your arms around him in these days. Comfort him as only You can, and let him feel Your presence in a tangible way. You see every tear he has cried, every wound he has carried, and You are near to him now.
We pray for his mother, Lord. You knit her together in her mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), and You know the number of her days (Psalm 139:16). We ask for Your mercy to be poured out upon her. If she does not know You, Lord, we pray that You would draw her to Yourself in these final moments. Soften her heart to receive Your forgiveness and grace. Break every chain of addiction and sin that has held her captive, and let her find true freedom in Jesus Christ. May she turn to Him in repentance and faith, and may she hear Your voice saying, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
For our brother, we pray for strength beyond his own. Give him the words to speak, the love to extend, and the grace to forgive. Heal the wounds of the past, Lord, and let this time be marked by Your redemption. Help him to release any bitterness or resentment, and fill him instead with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Give him wisdom in how to love her well, and surround him with Your people who can support and uplift him.
We rebuke the spirit of fear, sadness, and despair that seeks to overwhelm him. We declare that You, Lord, are his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Let him rest in You, knowing that You are sovereign over all things, including this. And when the grief feels too heavy, remind him that You are carrying him (Isaiah 46:4).
We pray all this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who conquered sin and death and offers eternal life to all who believe. May Your will be done, and may Your name be glorified in this situation. Amen.
Finally, we encourage you to hold fast to the hope of the Gospel. Death is not the end for those who are in Christ—it is the beginning of eternal life with Him (John 11:25-26). If your mother is a believer, you will see her again in the presence of the Lord, where there is no more pain, sorrow, or sin (Revelation 21:4). If she is not yet saved, there is still time to pray and share the truth with her. And for you, this season—though painful—can be a testament to the power of God’s grace to restore and redeem. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is with you, and He will never leave you.