Mother and son restored relationship

Prayer to Restore the Relationship with my Son

I became a single mom when my son Roger was seven years old. He changed overnight and his heart was no longer open to me.

Thanks to God’s grace, through years of prayer, especially Moms in Prayer, God changed my life and led me to repair the parent-child relationship with my son, step by step.

It was especially challenging last year, when I was concerned about my son’s time spent on computer games, so I prayed about this. Soon after, Roger joined a club at his university campus, but I wasn’t sure if this was good for him or not.

I thank God for guarding my heart, as I didn’t confront Roger despite being anxious. Instead, I listened to him when he enthusiastically talked about exciting activities at the club. Although my heart was full of worry, still I thanked God for every detail He had answered from my prayer, “May God attract Roger with other activities and reduce his time on computer games.” And I chose to compliment Roger’s progress, “Son, you are really getting mature and learning how to handle things carefully.”

One day, while praying for Roger’s school at my Moms in Prayer group, the Holy Spirit led me to pray for the salvation and safety of members in this club. I realized that my love is limited, but God’s love is long, wide, high and deep and He cares about every student at the university.

Moms praying for their children and schools

Moms in Prayer women in Vancouver, Canada

In John 17:15, Jesus says to the Father, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

I learned from this that my son is already a young man and I cannot force him to do things or take measures into my own hands. I needed to adjust my mindset. Through consistent prayer, I firmly believe that God will intervene at the different stages of Roger’s life and that God’s purpose and destiny for him will continue to be fulfilled.

Before he finished high school and went to the university, my son said to me, “I won’t come back. This is not my home. I don’t have a home.”

But now, even though we are in different countries, we communicate online two to three times per week and there is a warm connection between me and my son.

I deeply thank my loving, mighty, faithful Heavenly Father. He listened to every prayer and answered according to the best way and best timing in His eyes.

Moms in Prayer has meant so much to me that I reached out to other Christian mothers in my area. We thank God that there are now 30 registered groups! And, along with this, answers to prayer.

A group leader in my area shared that her group urgently prayed for the college and high school close to where they live. Four years later, the university hired a Christian president and the high school principal, who was living an ungodly life, suddenly resigned and was replaced with another principal.

Moms pray together on zoom for their children

Another answer to prayer comes from group member Grace. “Last month, Lynn told me that she started a Moms in Prayer group on zoom. God miraculously brought together moms residing in different provinces to pray fervently. I felt the need to pray for my son who had just started his first year in a university far away from home. As soon as I witnessed the fervent prayers of these moms, I was drawn to them and always look forward to praying with them the next time.”

“Dividing moms into groups of two during intercession gives me an opportunity to get to know more moms and their children, and to receive their unique prayers for my son and his university. During the short six weeks of praying with the Moms in Prayer group, I see the Lord Jesus Christ moving in my son’s life and transforming my own prayer life:

  • My morning time with the Lord has become less distracted by other thoughts as I focus on God’s attributes and character.
  • I feel a boost of confidence in prayer and the power of God such that prayer has gradually become more natural, like breathing.
  • While talking with my mother on WeChat, I was moved to pray with her for the salvation of other family members and relatives. My mother and I want to continue to pray together.
  • I initiated a prayer meeting on Zoom with my pastor and his wife to pray for the church using the same four steps of prayer.
  • The Lord opened a door for me to reach out to a non-believing friend. I prayed for her before I shared the Gospel. Glory be to God, she received the Lord!”

As we focus on God in prayer, praising His attributes and character, and thanking Him for what He has done for us, our spiritual atmosphere shifts and our problems diminish. Praise the Lord for He is such an awesome God and His love endures forever!

 

Lynn Chen started the first Moms in Prayer Chinese-speaking group in Vancouver, Canada in 2014. These mothers were prompted to start praying due to school policies being inconsistent with biblical teaching. Lynn then reached out to other moms in the Chinese community, leading them in the Four Steps of Prayer to develop a deeper understanding of the benefits and importance of this powerful prayer format.

Comments 17

  1. I am so happy to have found this. I am also a single mom to a 16 year old son. He is a great kid and I love him to pieces. I am so sorry for the mistakes I’ve made with him in being harsh with my words and full of anger and hate at times. We’ve talked and I apologized for my actions and take responsibility for the poor choices I’ve made. I’ve confessed my sins but am having trouble accepting His forgiveness. I want him to be ok and know that I truly love him and want the best for him. Please pray for us and for him that his heart can heal from the pain I have caused. His name is Zachary. Thank you.

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      Hello Molly, Thank you for your comment. So glad that this blog encouraged you. I will pray right now for you and for your son – complete healing of your relationship. Thankful that we have a Savior who loves us so much and forgives us of our sins. I encourage you to connect with a Moms in Prayer group in your area. I’ve prayed for my daughter for several years now and we had a strained relationship when I started praying. God has healed and restored and grown us both in the love of Christ. You can find out more here: https://momsinprayer.org/new-to-moms-in-prayer/ God bless you Molly.

    2. My son (age40) I have not seen since 2012. He lives far away. I was a single mom since he was 4. I was not the best mother at the time and took things out on him. Too harsh, anger. Yelling. In his late teens and early 20’s we were ok but now he wants nothing to do with me. I begged Jesus for forgiveness and to reunite me with him.

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        Hello Chris, Thank you for your comment. I’m so sorry that your relationship with your son is strained. I will pray for you and your son to be reconciled. Lord, I ask that Chris’ son will forgive his mom and contact her, realizing that she loves him. May he honor his mom and therefore honor You, God. In Jesus’ Name, amen. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 May this verse comfort and strengthen you Chris.

  2. Good evening, I need help , I feel so hopeless right now . My son is getting married and will not invite me to his wedding. I have 2 sons and had a very bad and challenging divorce. (My husband was cheating and I caught him, but decided to wait until my kids graduated high school.) I have not been able to see or talk to my children for 10 years. I just can’t live or be happy because I don’t have them in my life. I have tried to reach them for many years. I recently found out their grandfather passed away and attended viewing. I did see them but couldn’t talk too much because of the situation. They will not give me their phone number or address to stay in touch. Please pray for me. Their names Jonathan & Jason. I ask God to touch their hearts and forgive them.

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      Hello Madeline, Thank you for sharing this prayer request. I am so sorry for what you are going through with your sons. May God remind you of the Hope you have in Him and comfort your heart. I will pray for you and for your sons Jonathan and Jason, that God will restore your relationship. You can pray for your sons with other mothers in your community. Find out more: https://momsinprayer.org/new-to-moms-in-prayer/ We have groups that pray for their children that are in college or in their careers. God bless you Madeline.

      1. Hi, I need insight as I want to give up. My son is 13 and I feel he doesn’t care or love me. All of the countless ways, I go over and beyond for him. Right now I’m struggling, not working. Life has me in a chokehold. I can’t do anything for him as I don’t have the means to. It wasn’t always like this. He doesn’t like or want to spend time with me unless something’s in it for him. His dad doesn’t make it any better and I feel he encourages him to feel this way. He has more support on their side. I just feel like giving up although I love my son. I feel he’s better off without me. It hurts so bad. I’m left with not knowing what to do.

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          Whitney, Thank you for your comment. I’m so sorry for what you are going through. I will pray for your mom’s heart to be comforted by God. It is very difficult to watch our kids make wrong choices and not show their love for us as moms. Throughout the world, we hear of mothers who are discouraged and children who are not walking with the Lord, but many have gathered with other Christian moms and prayed together for their children and schools. And they have witnessed the miraculous – God strengthening mothers, guiding them on how to best pray for their children, and entire communities transformed. I encourage you to request to join a Moms in Prayer group in your area: https://momsinprayer.org/new-to-moms-in-prayer/ God bless you Whitney!

    2. I will be praying for you. My name is Hazel. I also have a son that I adopted when he was six months that will not talk to me. His name is Andres. Perhaps you could pray for me as well. My son Andres is now 19 years old, I love him very much, but he is in a lot of pain. I know I made my mistakes and I confess my sins to the Lord Jesus thank you for praying.

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        Hello Hazel, I will pray for you and your son also. I pray that your son will forgive and submit to God and that God will heal his broken heart and bind up his wounds (Psalm 147:3). I pray for you Hazel, that you will know the height, the width, the depth and the length of God’s love for you and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). You can join a Moms in Prayer group to pray for your son with other Christian moms in your community: https://momsinprayer.org/get-involved/join-a-group/ God bless you Hazel.

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  3. I am so glad I came across your article. My son was married for almost 13 years when we found out that they separated. We don’t know why, but we told him that we will always be there for him and that we love him more than he knows. We haven’t seen him or talked to him in a couple of months. He doesn’t answer our calls or texts. My heart is breaking and my husband and I don’t know what we did or what we can do. I’ve been praying for him for a while, but I need help.

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      Hello Sue, Thank you for your comment. I’m glad that this blog encouraged you. I will also pray for your son and your relationship with him to be restored. Here is the link to the God is our Helper prayer sheet: https://momsinprayer.org/resources/prayer-tools/prayer-sheets/helper-mobile-prayer-sheet/ In Moms in Prayer, we pray together by choosing an attribute of God and praising God first, then silently confess sin, thank God for what He is doing in our lives and pray the Word of God for our kids, from preschool to adult. I pray that this blesses you and gives you strength. You can join a Moms in Prayer group by going here: https://momsinprayer.org/get-involved/join-a-group/ God bless you Sue.

  4. Hello everyone
    I have been a single mother since he was 4.5 yrs old in 2010. I had struggled so much trying to be that father-figure (strict and firm) and a full time working mother has been the biggest challenge I’ve encountered. But if I had to do it again, I would. The only thing I would change would be the punishing and time-outs. My son is 16 yrs old now and I love him so dearly, I would give my life for him if it was necessary without a doubt. But we have grown apart and at times I even feel he hates me for how strict I was as he was growing up. I don’t know how to be that loving, kind mother since I grew up being beaten for anything and everything.

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      Hello Berenice, Thank you for your comment. I have just prayed for you and your son. I’m sorry that you are going through this. I encourage you to pray through the 5 Powerful Prayers for Sons. Here is the link: https://momsinprayer.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pdf5PowerfulPrayersforSons2020.pdf Most importantly, to connect with a Moms in Prayer group in your area: https://momsinprayer.org/get-involved/join-a-group/ May God bless you Berenice, and heal your relationship with your son.

    2. Oh my goodness thank you for sharing. I too grew up with pretty harsh forms of discipline and it was very very difficult to grow apart from.
      For the blessed education that I received from another non blood relatives, I learned a gentler more caring way to parent.
      I am learning that I can’t change the past behavior. I can make a choice not to add more to the problem. I can also with God’s help pray for my son, and do my best to show him quiet consistent love on a daily basis. Things aren’t instantly better, but it’s not worse, and we are moving in a forward direction.
      Thank you for sharing and know that we’re NEVER alone

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