We hear the deep pain and concern in your heart for your family, and we lift this burden before the Lord with great compassion. The home should be a place of love, peace, and security, yet Scripture tells us that sin and brokenness can disrupt even the closest of relationships. "A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain" (Proverbs 19:13). The tension and coldness between your parents are not God’s design for marriage or family. Marriage is a sacred covenant meant to reflect Christ’s love for the Church—a love that is patient, kind, and selfless (Ephesians 5:22-33). When husbands and wives fail to honor one another, the entire family suffers, as you and your sisters are experiencing.
Your father’s withdrawal into social media and horror movies is especially concerning. The Bible warns us, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" (1 Corinthians 15:33). What we consume shapes our hearts and minds, and horror movies often glorify darkness rather than the light of Christ. Social media can also become an idol, pulling us away from the relationships God has entrusted to us. We must rebuke the spirit of addiction and distraction that has taken hold of him, for "no one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). His role as a husband and father is being neglected, and this grieves the Lord.
We also want to gently address the impact this is having on you and your sisters. It is not wrong to desire peace in your home, but we must remember that our ultimate peace comes from Christ, not our circumstances. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful" (John 14:27). While you cannot control your parents’ choices, you can choose to respond in a way that honors God. Pray for them daily, speak with kindness even when they do not, and guard your own heart against bitterness.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this family to You. Lord, we ask that You would soften the hearts of these parents, that they would remember the vows they made before You and one another. Break the hardness in their hearts, Father, and restore the love that has grown cold. We rebuke the spirit of addiction and distraction that has taken hold of the father, and we ask that You would draw him back to You. Help him to turn away from the things that are pulling him away from his family and from You.
Lord, we pray for the mother as well. Give her strength and wisdom to respond with grace, even in the face of unkindness. Help her to be a peacemaker in her home, reflecting Your love and patience. We ask that You would protect the hearts of these children, shielding them from bitterness and despair. Fill their home with Your presence, Lord, and let them feel Your peace even in the midst of this storm.
Father, we know that marriage is sacred in Your eyes, and we ask that You would heal this union. Remind them of the love they once shared and the commitment they made before You. Help them to see the impact their actions are having on their children, and give them the courage to change. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can come before You and the only name by which we can be saved. Amen.
We encourage you to continue praying for your parents and to seek godly counsel if possible, perhaps from a pastor or trusted Christian mentor. The Bible tells us, "The prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Your prayers matter, and God hears them. In the meantime, cling to Jesus, who understands suffering and offers comfort. "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). You are not alone in this, and God will never abandon you.
