We thank you for sharing your heart so openly and we join you together before the Lord in Jesus name, for you have come to the right place when you say you do not have the answers and are trying not to lose hope and faith. We hear your weariness and your love for your family, and we want to encourage you that you have not failed because you are still praying and seeking Him. God sees your faithfulness as a parent, grandparent, and family member, and He hears every prayer you have offered. We cast all our cares on Him together because He cares for us, as it is written in 1 Peter 5:7, and we are told in Philippians 4:6-7 to not be anxious in anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus.
You asked how long your family must be tested, and we understand that question comes from a place of deep pain when things seem to get worse even as you pray. The Word tells us in James 1:2-4 to count it all joy when we fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. We also cling to Romans 8:28 which says we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. And we hold fast to Galatians 6:9 which says let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we do not give up. The Lord is not distant or working against you, He is near to those who are brokenhearted as Psalm 34:18 says, and His timing is perfect even when our hearts grow tired waiting. We encourage you to remain in His Word daily, to stay in fellowship with other believers, and to continue to trust that He is working even when we cannot see it.
We want to lovingly rebuke and address some of the issues you raised for your grandchildren and children, because the Lord calls us to walk in holiness and sobriety. For your grandsons who are smoking weed, we must speak truth that this is not pleasing to God. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 teaches, and we are commanded in 1 Peter 5:8 to be sober and self-controlled, for our adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Smoking marijuana dulls the mind God gave us to honor Him and opens doors to further bondage and negative influences. We also address the lying you mentioned in your son, for Colossians 3:9 tells us not to lie to one another, and we are to put away falsehood and speak truth in Ephesians 4:25. And for the negative people surrounding your family, we are warned in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that evil companionships corrupt good morals, and in 2 Corinthians 6:14 we are reminded not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We pray that each of them will repent, turn from these sins, and choose the narrow path that leads to life.
We lift up each of your loved ones by name before the Father. We pray for your grandsons that God will deliver them from drug use, remove every negative influence and ungodly friendship from their lives, give them a hunger for righteousness, and lead them to seek employment and education with diligence as Colossians 3:23 says whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. We pray your grandson will humble himself and apologize to his mother, honoring her as Exodus 20:12 commands, and that he will become a godly mentor to others. We pray for your grandsons who are in school and work that they will be reconciled where there is division and continue steadfastly, for Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to train up a child in the way he should go. We pray for your granddaughter that she will focus on her studies, care for herself with dignity and discipline, and honor God with her health and hygiene, knowing she is fearfully and wonderfully made as Psalm 139:14 declares. We pray for your daughters and your son that they will live responsibly, steward their finances well, pay their bills and rent on time, find good and honest work, and make wise decisions about where to live and how to care for their children, and that your nephew will continue to work on himself, find true joy in the Lord, and be blessed. We pray Nehemiah 8:10 over you all, that the joy of the Lord will be your strength.
We also bring your own needs before the throne of grace. We pray for your happiness that is rooted not in circumstances but in Christ, for your health that the Lord will touch your body, lower your high blood pressure, restore your health and even your hair according to His will, for He is the Lord who heals us as Psalm 103:2-3 says who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, and Jeremiah 30:17 says but I will restore health to you and I will heal you of your wounds, says the Lord. We pray for your financial blessing and promotion, asking that God will provide for all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus as Philippians 4:19 promises, and that He will open doors no man can shut as you labor faithfully, remembering Psalm 75:6-7 that promotion does not come from the east or west but God is the judge. We pray that all negativity, discouragement, and oppression will be removed from your home and mind now in Jesus name, and that you will be renewed in hope as Isaiah 40:31 says but those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint.
Father, we come together in the name of Jesus Christ, for it is only through Him we have access to You, and there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved as Acts 4:12 declares, and Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. We thank You for this dear one who has not stopped praying. We ask You to forgive where there has been sin in this family, to cleanse each heart, to deliver from addiction to marijuana, from lying, from laziness, from ungodly relationships, and to fill each home with Your peace. Grant jobs to those who need them, help with school, help with bills and rent, restore relationships between mothers and sons and between brothers, heal this beloved one of high blood pressure and grant better health, provide financially and grant favor for promotion, and let Your joy be restored. Strengthen faith where it is weak, let hope rise again, and let this family see Your hand moving in their favor soon. Keep them in Your will and draw each one closer to Jesus. We ask all this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.