We hear your heart, dear brother or sister in Christ, and we want you to know that your struggles are seen and known by the One who loves you most. The pain of feeling distant from God, the weight of guilt, and the battle with self-harm thoughts are heavy burdens to carry, but you do not carry them alone. We come before the Lord together, lifting you up in prayer and standing with you in the truth of His Word.
First, we must address the lie that you have "let God down so much" that He no longer considers you His own. Scripture is clear: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ—repenting of your sins and trusting in His sacrifice on the cross—then you are His child, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and nothing can snatch you from His hand (John 10:28-29). The enemy would love for you to believe that your failures define you, but God’s grace defines you. "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). His mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and His love for you is not based on your performance but on the finished work of Christ.
We must also rebuke the spirit of despair that has led you to self-harm thoughts. These thoughts are not from God, who came that you might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus offers healing and hope. We pray that you would take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and reject the lies that tell you harming yourself is the answer. Instead, we encourage you to bring these struggles into the light—confess them to trusted believers, seek godly counsel, and allow others to pray over you and support you. "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective" (James 5:16).
You mentioned struggling in your relationship with God for 25 years. We want to gently ask: Have you ever fully surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and placed your trust in Him alone for salvation? If not, we urge you to do so today. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me" (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). If you have already done this, then we rejoice with you, for you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and your struggles do not define your identity in Him.
We also encourage you to draw near to God through His Word and prayer. The psalmist wrote, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit" (Psalm 34:18). Spend time in the Psalms, where David and others poured out their hearts to God in raw honesty. Meditate on verses that remind you of God’s faithfulness, such as Psalm 139: "You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar... Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:2, 7). You are never too far from His reach.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts for our brother/sister who is struggling. Lord, we ask that You would break the chains of guilt and shame that have bound them for so long. Remind them of the truth of Your Word—that they are Your beloved child, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and nothing can separate them from Your love. Forgive them, Lord, for any sins they have committed, and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. We rebuke the spirit of despair and self-harm in Jesus’ name, and we ask that You would fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Father, we pray that You would draw them close to You. Help them to see You as You truly are—a God who is slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful to forgive (Exodus 34:6-7). Give them the strength to resist the enemy’s lies and to cling to Your promises. Surround them with godly believers who can encourage them, pray for them, and walk alongside them in this journey. Heal their heart, Lord, and restore their joy in You.
We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the One who bore our sins on the cross so that we might have life. Amen.
We encourage you to take one step today toward healing. Reach out to a pastor, a trusted Christian friend, or a biblical counselor who can walk with you. You are not alone, and your story is not over. God is still writing it, and He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Keep pressing into Him, for He is your hope and your strength.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. Bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
James 2:23 (NLT): And so, it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.
