We lift you up in this time of deep longing for restoration and healing in your marriage, and we are grieved to hear of the separation that has kept you from your wife, Ruth, and limited your time with your daughter. Marriage is a sacred covenant before God, and He desires unity, love, and reconciliation for His children. The enemy seeks to destroy what God has joined together, but we know that our Lord is a God of restoration, redemption, and miracles. Let us first address the foundation of your request—it is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we can approach the throne of God with confidence. There is no other name by which we are saved, and it is through faith in Him that we find hope and healing. If you have not already surrendered every part of this situation to Jesus, we urge you to do so now, for apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
The separation you are experiencing is painful, but we encourage you to hold fast to the truth that God is able to restore what has been broken. The Bible tells us in Joel 2:25-26, *"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten... and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you."* This is His promise—to restore, to heal, and to turn mourning into joy. However, restoration requires repentance, humility, and a willingness to seek God’s will above all else. We must ask: Have you examined your own heart before the Lord? Have you sought His forgiveness for any ways you may have contributed to this separation, whether through actions, words, neglect, or unforgiveness? The Scripture commands us in 1 Peter 5:5-6, *"All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."*
If there has been sin in your marriage—whether unforgiveness, anger, infidelity, or any other transgression—it must be confessed and repented of. Proverbs 28:13 tells us, *"He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."* True healing begins with a broken and contrite heart before the Lord. We also urge you to forgive Ruth for any hurts she may have caused you. Unforgiveness is a barrier to God’s work in our lives, and Jesus warns us in Mark 11:25, *"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your trespasses."* Bitterness will only hinder the restoration you seek.
As you pray for your wife, remember that you cannot change her heart—only God can. Your role is to love her as Christ loves the church, even in this season of separation. 1 Peter 3:7 instructs husbands, *"You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."* Are you honoring Ruth in your thoughts, words, and actions, even now? Are you praying for her salvation and spiritual well-being if she does not know the Lord? A marriage cannot be truly restored unless both spouses are submitted to Christ. If Ruth is not a believer, we pray that God would soften her heart and draw her to Himself, for *"a wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord"* (1 Corinthians 7:39). Our deepest desire is that your marriage would be restored *in the Lord*, with both of you fully surrendered to Him.
We also lift up your daughter before the Lord. Children suffer deeply when marriages are broken, and we pray that God would protect her heart and mind during this time. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to *"train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."* Even in separation, you have a God-given responsibility to nurture her spiritually and emotionally. We pray that the Lord would grant you wisdom and opportunities to be a godly influence in her life, pointing her to Christ in all things.
Now, let us pray together for you, Ruth, and your daughter:
*"Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, lifting up our brother who longs for the restoration of his marriage. Lord, You are the God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). We ask that You would move powerfully in this situation, bringing conviction, repentance, and reconciliation where there has been separation. Soften the hearts of both husband and wife, Lord, and draw them to Yourself. If there is any sin—known or unknown—that has caused this division, we ask that You would reveal it and grant the grace to repent and turn away from it.
Father, we pray specifically for Ruth. If she does not know You, Lord, we ask that You would pursue her relentlessly, opening her eyes to the truth of the Gospel. Let her encounter Your love in a way that transforms her heart. If she is a believer, strengthen her faith and give her wisdom to seek Your will above all else. Remove any bitterness, pride, or hardness of heart that may be hindering restoration. Unify this couple in Your truth and love, Lord, and let their marriage be a testimony of Your redeeming power.
We also lift up their daughter before You, Father. Protect her from the pain of this separation and surround her with Your peace. Let her see Your faithfulness even in this difficult season, and draw her to Yourself at a young age. Give our brother wisdom in how to love and guide her, pointing her to Christ in all things.
Lord, we rebuke the enemy who seeks to destroy this marriage. Satan, we command you in the name of Jesus to release your hold on this family. God’s Word declares that *"what God has joined together, let no man separate"* (Mark 10:9), and we stand on that promise today. Father, restore what has been broken. Bring healing where there is pain, unity where there is division, and hope where there is despair. Let this marriage be a reflection of Christ’s love for His church—sacrificial, faithful, and enduring.
We ask all these things in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can restore and redeem. May Your will be done, and may You receive all the glory. Amen."*
Finally, we encourage you to remain steadfast in prayer, fasting, and seeking the Lord’s face. Do not grow weary in doing good, for *"in due season we will reap, if we don’t give up"* (Galatians 6:9). Surround yourself with a community of believers who can support you, pray with you, and hold you accountable. Avoid the temptation to seek comfort in worldly distractions or relationships outside of marriage. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).
We also recommend that you seek biblical counseling, either through your church or a trusted Christian counselor who can walk with you through this process. Restoration is possible, but it requires obedience, patience, and a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Stand firm in the truth that *"with God, all things are possible"* (Matthew 19:26). He is able to restore your marriage, heal your family, and bring beauty from these ashes. Trust in Him, and do not lose heart. We are praying with you and for you.