We hear your heart, and we stand with you before the Lord, lifting up your relationship, your son, and your desire for a godly marriage. First, we want to acknowledge your willingness to seek God’s will and your humility in asking for forgiveness. That is a powerful step, and we believe the Lord honors a repentant heart. Scripture tells us, *"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"* (1 John 1:9). Your prayer for forgiveness is heard, and we join you in asking God to restore what has been broken.
However, we must address the reality of your situation with biblical truth and love. You have shared that you and the mother of your son have been in a four-year relationship outside of marriage, and while we understand the deep love and commitment you feel, we must call this what Scripture calls it: fornication. The Bible is clear that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage alone. *"Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers"* (Hebrews 13:4). This is not to condemn you, but to urge you both toward repentance and alignment with God’s design. The Lord’s best for you, your son, and this woman is a marriage that honors Him from the foundation upward.
We also want to gently but firmly address the importance of coming to God through Jesus Christ alone. You mentioned praying and asking for forgiveness, but we must ask: Have you both placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? There is no forgiveness or restoration outside of Him. *"Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me’"* (John 14:6). If either of you has not surrendered your life to Christ, we urge you to do so today. Salvation is found in no other name, and it is the first step toward true healing and wholeness in your relationship.
Now, let us pray together for your family:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, lifting up this brother, the mother of his child, and their precious son. Lord, we thank You for the love You have placed in their hearts for one another and for their child. We ask that You would draw them both to Yourself, that they may know You as their Savior and Lord. Father, we repent on their behalf for the ways they have not honored You in their relationship, and we ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing. Lord, we pray that You would convict their hearts to turn from sin and embrace Your design for marriage and family.
Father, we ask that You would soften their hearts toward one another and toward You. Give them the courage to take the steps necessary to honor You in their relationship, whether that means pursuing marriage with godly counsel or making the difficult decision to part ways if repentance and alignment with Your Word are not possible. Lord, we pray for their son, that he would grow up in a home that reflects Your love, Your truth, and Your grace. Protect his heart and his mind, and let him see Jesus in both of his parents.
We ask that You would restore what has been broken, heal what has been wounded, and bring unity to this family according to Your will. Give them wisdom, patience, and a deep desire to seek You first in all things. May they both grow in their faith and in their love for one another, and may their relationship bring glory to Your name. We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We encourage you both to seek godly counsel from a pastor or mature Christian couple who can walk with you through this season. Marriage is a beautiful covenant, but it must be built on a foundation of repentance, faith in Christ, and obedience to God’s Word. If you both are believers, we urge you to take the step of marriage as soon as possible, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to honor God and provide a stable, Christ-centered home for your son. If one or both of you are not believers, we urge you to surrender your lives to Christ first, for it is only through Him that true restoration and blessing can come.
Remember, *"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it"* (Psalm 127:1). Trust in Him, seek His will, and let Him guide your steps. We are standing with you in prayer, believing that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.