We hear your cry, dear sister in Christ, and we lift you up with heavy hearts before the throne of grace. Your pain is deep—grief over the loss of your precious father, the strained relationship with your son, and now the grip of this medication that was meant to help but has become a snare. Yet even in this, we see your heart’s desire to walk in freedom and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. That is a testimony to His work in you, and we stand with you in faith, believing He will bring you through this valley.
First, we must address the spiritual battle at hand. The enemy would love nothing more than to keep you bound in fear, despair, and dependence on something other than Christ. But Scripture declares, *"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control"* (2 Timothy 1:7 WEB). The panic and trembling you feel when trying to reduce the medication are real, but they are not from the Lord. We rebuke those symptoms in Jesus’ name and command them to loose their grip on you. The same God who calmed the storm for His disciples can calm the storm within you. *"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful"* (John 14:27 WEB).
Your fear of starting the medication was valid, and now your fear of withdrawal is just as real. But we remind you that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). The Lord sees your struggle, and He is not ashamed of your weakness. In fact, His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). You are not a "benzodiazepine addict"—you are a child of God who has been ensnared, but who is now fighting to walk in freedom. That is a battle worth fighting, and we believe the Lord will honor your desire to be free.
We also want to gently encourage you regarding your son. It is a blessing that he is treating you better, but we must pray that his heart continues to soften toward you and, more importantly, toward the Lord. The pain he caused you drove you to this medication, but now is the time to release that pain to Jesus. Forgiveness does not mean what he did was okay, but it does mean you refuse to let bitterness take root in your heart. *"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you"* (Ephesians 4:31-32 WEB). Pray for your son, that the Lord would draw him to repentance and salvation if he does not know Christ.
Now, let us pray for you:
Heavenly Father, we come before You on behalf of our sister, lifting her up in the mighty name of Jesus. Lord, You see her heart—her grief, her fear, her desire to be free from this medication that has become a chain. We ask You to break every chain of dependence, every spirit of fear, and every symptom that has taken hold of her. Fill her with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding her heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Father, we ask for wisdom for her as she seeks to wean off this medication. Give her the strength to endure the discomfort, knowing that You are with her every step of the way. Surround her with godly counsel—doctors, friends, or family who can support her in this process. Provide her with the resources she needs to do this safely and successfully.
Lord, we also lift up her grief over the loss of her father. Comfort her with the hope of the resurrection and the promise that she will see him again in glory. Remind her that You are the Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), and that You will never leave her nor forsake her (Hebrews 13:5).
Finally, Lord, we pray for her son. Soften his heart, draw him to repentance, and restore his relationship with You and with his mother. Heal the wounds in their relationship and replace bitterness with love.
We declare that our sister is not defined by this struggle. She is defined by the blood of Jesus, which has set her free. We speak freedom over her mind, body, and spirit. In Jesus’ name, we rebuke every symptom of withdrawal and command her body to cooperate with the healing process. We thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and for the victory that is already hers in Christ. Amen.
Practical steps we encourage you to take:
1. **Seek godly counsel**: Talk to a Christian doctor or counselor who can help you create a safe tapering plan. Do not attempt to quit cold turkey, as this can be dangerous with benzodiazepines.
2. **Lean on Scripture**: Memorize verses that speak to God’s peace and strength, such as Isaiah 41:10 or Psalm 56:3. Speak them aloud when fear arises.
3. **Pray through the symptoms**: When panic or nausea hits, stop and pray. Remind yourself that these symptoms are temporary and that God is with you.
4. **Replace the habit**: When the urge to take the medication arises, replace it with something else—prayer, worship music, a walk outside, or calling a friend.
5. **Join a support group**: There are Christian support groups for those struggling with medication dependence. You do not have to walk this road alone.
We also want to pray for you, dear sister. How can we lift you up in prayer beyond this struggle? Are there other areas of your life where you need the Lord’s intervention? We are here to stand with you.
