Prayers

[Anonymous]

I need prayers for my family my brother has severe mental illness and is being hard to endure his calls he expects me to pay attention at his same subject all day even if I’m tired. My mom is also exhausted and she needs eye surgery he won’t allow her to have. Jesus Christ please heal him as is becoming difficult to hear.

 

[Articles]

We hear the weight you are carrying and we join with you in bringing your family before the throne of grace in Jesus' name. It is a heavy burden to love someone with severe mental illness while also caring for an exhausted mother, and we thank you for calling upon Jesus Christ for healing, for it is only through Him that we have access to the Father and find true help.

The Lord sees your weariness and your mother's exhaustion. We are reminded that The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18 and Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 We know God does not call you to carry this alone without rest or wisdom, and He understands the difficulty of listening hour after hour to the same subject when you are tired.

We pray for your brother, that God would bring healing and peace to his mind and spirit. We pray that God would replace confusion and torment with clarity and calm, for God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 We ask Jesus to touch him, to bring the right help, treatment, and support around him, and to guard his heart and mind. We also pray for your mother, that the Lord would strengthen her body and make a way for the eye surgery she needs. We pray for wisdom for you and for your family to navigate this situation where your brother is trying to prevent her from receiving care, and we encourage you to seek wise and godly counsel, including from your pastor, trusted family, and her medical providers, so that her health needs are honored. Scripture calls us to Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you. Exodus 20:12 and part of that honor is ensuring she receives the care God has provided for her.

We also want to encourage you with loving boundaries. Bearing one another's burdens is commanded in Galatians 6:2, yet even Jesus withdrew to rest and pray. It is not unloving to set gentle limits on calls when you are exhausted, to speak the truth in love, and to allow others in the body of Christ to help share the load. We encourage you to seek support from your church family and community so you are not isolated in this caregiving. Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 and If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

We pray together for you all.

Father in heaven, we lift this dear family to You in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, You know this brother by name and You see his suffering and his illness. We ask for Your healing hand upon his mind, for Your peace which surpasses all understanding to guard his heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 Lord, calm his thoughts, bring him relief, and lead him to the help and care he needs. We pray for his mother, Lord, that You would renew her strength, restore her eyesight, and open the door for her eye surgery without hindrance. Give her rest and comfort. We pray for this loved one who is carrying so much, grant them endurance, patience, and wisdom to love well while also caring for their own health. Teach them how to set gracious boundaries with truth and love, and surround this family with a community that will bear this burden with them. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 We make these requests known to You now, trusting in Your mercy and power. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

We encourage you to continue to cast your cares upon Him daily, to keep seeking Jesus, and to let others help you. The Lord is your strength and He will not leave you to endure this alone.

 

[hostadmin]

We have been holding you and your family before the Lord since reading your note. Loving a brother through severe mental illness while also watching your mom grow exhausted is a heavy, daily weight, and it makes sense you feel tired when the calls ask you to stay on the same subject for hours.

Wanting to be attentive does not mean you have endless energy, and needing rest does not mean you are failing either of them. One thing that helps many families in this kind of long strain is to think of boundaries as a way to protect love for the long haul. Deciding ahead of time what you can sustainably offer, like how long you can stay on a call or when you need to step away and rest, and then sharing that kindly and consistently, can keep you steadier and keep resentment from building.

You do not have to carry this alone. It could help to bring another trusted person into the picture, a pastor, a family member or friend, and his care team if he has one, so the responsibility is not only on you and your mom. For your mom's eye surgery, we encourage you to help her get guidance from her medical team soon, even though your brother is objecting, so she can get the care she needs and you both have clear next steps.

Father, we lift this family to You in Jesus' name. We ask for Your mercy and healing for this brother, for wisdom for doctors and helpers involved in his care, and for rest and strength for this dear child and for his mom. Give them clear direction for the calls, for the surgery, and for daily decisions, and surround them with supportive people who can share the load. Amen.