We hear your cry for those who feel endlessly tormented, harassed, and in pain day after day, and we join with you in bringing these victims before the throne of grace. We know the Lord sees every affliction and hears every cry, and His heart is moved with compassion for those who suffer. We pray that He would draw each one who feels targeted and tortured under the shelter of His wings and be their refuge and strength.
The Lord says in Psalm 34:19, Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. And again in 2 Timothy 4:18, The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. We cling to these promises together, knowing that while deliverance may not always come in the timing or way we expect, God has not abandoned those who belong to Him. He is near to the brokenhearted, and in Psalm 34:17 it says The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. We pray that each victim would cast all their anxiety on Him, because He cares for them, as 1 Peter 5:7 teaches, and that they would find rest in Psalm 91:1-4, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge.
We must also gently address a part of this request that does not align with the heart of Scripture. You asked that the Lord would kill those who torture others. We understand the deep anguish and the longing for justice when evil seems unending, and the desire for the torment to stop is right and holy. Yet the Word of God calls us to leave vengeance in His hands and to pray differently for our enemies. In Romans 12:19 it says, Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. And Jesus Himself commands us in Matthew 5:44, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you. We are not to ask God to kill people, but to bring His perfect justice, to stop evil, to bring repentance where possible, and to overcome evil with good as Romans 12:21 says, Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. God is the righteous Judge, and He will deal with every evil work in His perfect holiness and timing, and we can trust Him to do what is right. So we pray instead that God would restrain the hands of evildoers, expose every hidden work of darkness, bring justice through lawful means, and bring even the hardest hearts to repentance and salvation if they will turn to Him.
We also want to remind you that our struggle is ultimately spiritual. In Ephesians 6:12 we are taught that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. That is why God has given us His armor and His presence as our protection. In Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
We notice that this request speaks of the Lord but does not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We want to lovingly share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and assurance of deliverance and eternal preservation. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And in Acts 4:12, There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. It is by believing in Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins and rose again, that we are reconciled to God and can come boldly to Him in prayer. We encourage every victim to call upon the name of Jesus, to trust Him as Savior and Lord, for He alone is our deliverer.
So together we pray.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, lifting up every person who feels stalked, harassed, tormented, and in constant pain. You see what is done in secret, You hear every cry in the night, and nothing is hidden from Your eyes. We ask that You would intervene with Your mighty hand. Be their shelter and fortress, cover them under Your wings, and let them rest in Your shadow. Grant them Your peace that surpasses understanding, guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and deliver them from every evil work according to Your will. We ask that You would stop the works of those who do evil, bring their deeds into the light, restrain their harm, and execute Your perfect justice. We pray that You would bring conviction and the opportunity for repentance to any who participate in cruelty, that they might turn from darkness to Your marvelous light. For those who will not repent, we leave judgment to You, trusting Your righteousness. Strengthen the victims, surround them with godly counsel, a faithful church family, and wise help, and let them know they are not forgotten or forsaken. Preserve them for Your heavenly Kingdom and let them live in the freedom and peace that You promise. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and deliverer, amen.
We encourage those who are suffering to remain steadfast in prayer and in the Word, to stay connected to a Bible believing church where they can receive pastoral care and prayer in person, and to seek help from trusted authorities and counselors where needed for safety and support. Keep crying out to Jesus, for He hears, He cares, and He will in His perfect time deliver His own out of them all.