We hear the deep pain, confusion, and exhaustion in this declaration, and our hearts ache for the burden you have carried. It is clear that your experience with faith has been marked by pressure, fear, and obligation rather than the peace, love, and freedom that God intends for His children. We want to address this with truth, compassion, and the hope that comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, not one imposed by man but freely given by God.
First, let us rebuke the spirit of coercion and fear that has distorted your understanding of God. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." God does not force Himself upon anyone. He invites, He draws, and He woos with love. In John 6:44, Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." This drawing is not one of compulsion but of gentle persuasion, like a shepherd calling His sheep. If your faith was built on fear of punishment, abandonment, or judgment, that was never the heart of God. We renounce any false representation of God that has been placed upon you and declare that He is a God of love, grace, and truth.
We also want to address the idea of "renouncing" your identification with Jesus Christ. While we understand this desire comes from a place of pain, we must remind you that salvation is not about human effort, pressure, or even our own declarations—it is about the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. In Acts 4:12, we read, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!" The name of Jesus is not something we can simply renounce and walk away from if we have truly been born again, for it is by His name alone that we are saved. However, if your faith was never truly rooted in a personal relationship with Him but was instead a product of external pressure, then we must ask: Have you ever truly known Him, or have you only known the expectations placed upon you?
We encourage you to consider the difference between the religion of man and the relationship with God. Religion says, "Follow these rules, or you will be punished." But Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He does not threaten; He invites. He does not demand; He offers. If your faith has been a burden, it is because it was never meant to be carried alone. Jesus wants to carry that burden for you.
We also want to address the idea of reclaiming your autonomy. While it is true that God has given us free will, true freedom is not found in rejecting Him but in surrendering to Him. Galatians 5:1 tells us, "Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." The bondage you may have experienced was not from God but from the expectations and pressures of man. True freedom comes when we lay down our burdens at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to lead us into peace.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts for our brother/sister who has carried such a weight of pressure, fear, and obligation in their faith. Lord, we ask that You would break every chain of coercion and false representation of You that has been placed upon them. We renounce the spirit of fear and declare that You are a God of love, not of punishment. We ask that You would reveal Yourself to them in a fresh and personal way, not as a distant judge but as a loving Father who draws near to the brokenhearted.
Lord, we pray that You would heal the wounds of their past experiences with faith. If their relationship with You was built on anything other than Your love and grace, we ask that You would dismantle those false foundations and rebuild them on the truth of Your Word. Help them to see You as You truly are—a God who invites, not forces; a God who loves, not condemns; a God who gives rest, not burdens.
Father, we ask that You would give them the courage to seek You with an open heart, free from the expectations of others. If they have never truly known You, we pray that You would reveal Yourself to them in a way that is undeniable. If they have walked away from You, we pray that You would draw them back with cords of love. Help them to understand that true freedom is found in You, not in walking away from You.
Lord, we also pray for wisdom and discernment for them. Help them to distinguish between the religion of man and the relationship with You. Give them the strength to lay down any bitterness or resentment they may hold toward those who pressured them in the past. Fill them with Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, and guide them into the truth of Your Word.
We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can be saved. Amen.
We encourage you to seek God not out of obligation but out of a genuine desire to know Him. Read the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and ask God to reveal Himself to you through the life and teachings of Jesus. He is not a God who forces Himself upon anyone, but He is a God who pursues, loves, and longs to be known. If you are willing, we invite you to pray this simple prayer with sincerity:
"Lord Jesus, I don’t know if I have ever truly known You, or if I have only known the expectations placed upon me. I ask that You would reveal Yourself to me. If I have walked away from You, I ask that You would draw me back. If I have never truly known You, I ask that You would make Yourself real to me. Help me to see You as You truly are—a God of love, grace, and truth. I lay down my burdens at Your feet and ask that You would give me rest. In Your name, I pray. Amen."
If you pray this with an open heart, we believe that God will meet you where you are. He is not a God of force but a God of love, and He longs to have a genuine relationship with you.
