My father has been unhappy for quite some time now, even before he and my mother got a divorce two years ago. He filed bankrupcy and lost everything, including his house and his truck. He is living in a trailor that he rents, with his girlfriend and myself. He use to drink every day when he was with my mother and constantly came home smashed and took it out on us, then he stopped when they got a divorce. Recently he has become very unhappy again, and has started drink, once again, every day. He and I have been fighting, and just got into a huge argument (when he came home drunk) about my boyfriend and how my dad doesn't like him and stuff. It was horrible, and this is not the first time it has happened. When he gets drunk he take his unhappiness out on me and my boyfriend. I am so tired of him coming home smashed every night and us getting into it over the same thing, just because he is unhappy. It has gotten to the point to where I stay away until I know he has gone to sleep, and I don't even want to live here anymore. I am afraid to come home because I do not know if he will be kind of sober or totally inebriated. Please help me pray that he can find God and quit this horrible addiction that is slowly tearing us apart. All I want is for him to be happy, find God, and show my boyfriend some respect.

I have also been praying that I can accept God fully into my life and become a better person and make better decisions than I have made in the past. I know I have bad habits that God doesn't approve of, but I am finding it hard to give those up, even though I know they are wrong. I pray every night that God will help me be strong willed enough to give them up and turn away from the Devil's temptations. My boyfriend says I cannot be a believer and still continue to go on with these bad choices, knowing that they are wrong. I keep praying that God will help me to be strong enough to give up these horrible thoughts, feelings, and actions and it seems like every step I take towards the right direction, I always move 2 steps back. I can't help the things I think and I know God knows what I am thinking. All I can do is keep praying for his help, and I ask that you pray for both my father and I to be closer to God, and make the right decisions. Thank you for you prayers, and praise God.

Lindsey -

When you are a minor and are in such a situation as you describe, it is very difficult to dealt with. Sometimes adults do not realize the stress they cause and sometimes they are too stressed themselves to care. My advice is to not be confrontational.

It’s normal for a father not to be too crazy about his daughter’s boyfriend - but he sounds level-headed from what you say. I don’t know what things you consider wrong that you say you have been doing/thinking, etc. but I assure you that God Who designed us knows our weaknesses and understands. In any case, if we ask, He is faithful to forgive our sins.

Lord, Please bring Peace and Love to Lindsey’s household, In Jesus/Name, Amen.

Shalom.

Thanks semi, i am level headed since i came back to the lord. i just recently lost my job and thats why her father is being all stupid. hes always been like that though, i think its partially because im taking time from him and his little girl. he has always resented me for some reason and its dumb cause i wish we could have a good relationship but with him not knowing the lord its impossible. im going to pray for you darling and thank you semi and everyone else who is going to pray for this situation. take care everyone and god bless.

I'm praying for both of you. As I pray, I get a sense this is a situation ripe with opportunity for God. Lindsey and Kevin, Semi is right, and his quote of 1 John 1:9 is right on point! The Bible is very clear that Christians sin and have sinful thoughts. In fact, if you look at the verse just before the one Semi quoted, you'll see an amazing thing many Christians miss. John writes, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." John was writing to Christians, and, including himself. Christians sin! The difference is, we don't want to sin, don't pursue, sin and don't justify the sin in our lives. The Bible is clear, thanks to Jesus, it isn't where we've been, but where we're headed that counts. Kevin, I want to recommend you look into something that will help you both with Lindsey and her father.

I can tell you're very strong in your feelings about rooting out sin in your life, as you should be. I'd recommend you keep all your efforts with respect to sin focussed on yourself. This is what I do, too, because that's what Jesus said to do. If you operate in mercy toward others and judgment toward yourself, your relationships will be easier. I'm not sure it will help with Lindsey's Dad. There are certainly other things going on in that situation. When you say you can't have a good relationship with him because he doesn't "know the Lord," I get the impression you're blocking that relationship as much as he is. It breaks my heart to hear this, because he needs to have a relationship based in mercy if he is ever to know the Lord.

It's God's kindness that leads to repentance, not judgment. Kevin and Lindsey both, there is no one who needs love and mercy more than someone suffering addiction. Since you've both expressed grief over your own sin and have experienced mercy from God, can you use that well of mercy He's given you to give to Dad? Kevin, I'm not saying you haven't, but maybe if you made an effort to find things in him you can respect and admire, and asked his advice on those things, you could build a relationship a little bit at a time. Trust me, having been an alcoholic for twenty years before being healed by the Lord, addicts don't need anyone who, by their actions, words, or attitudes, reminds them of their faults. Their familiarity with their faults is what made them addicts in the first place.

I'm not even saying this is possible with Lindsey's Dad...it wasn't with my Dad, who was so intimidated around Christians he felt he had to lash out. I'm just saying there may be more opportunity here than you see, and by approaching him with love and mercy, you may open a place for Jesus to enter in. If not, you've at least lived up to who Jesus expects you to be. John wrote, "in this world we are like Him." Jesus was known as the friend of sinners.

Thank you all for your prayers and words of advice. Kevin, I know, is having a rough time with this situation, and I have to keep reminding him to keep faith in God, and to keep a positive attitude about it. I agree with you Glen, when you say he is blocking the relationship like my father. I have felt and said the same thing. I believe that this is a test of our faith. When Kev was sick, he helped me to find God and have faith in him, and now it is my turn to help him have faith in God to help us with this problem, and my dad's addiction. I know that my dad's real issues that he is thinking about do not have much to do with us, but I have heard that some people take it out on the people they love the most because, consciously or subconsciously, they know that those people will love them no matter what. I also believe that this is a test of mine and Kevin relationship, because in the past when this has happened, it has hurt our relationship and I do not wish for that to happen now. I know I have to put my faith in God, and pray for my dad's happiness and salvation, but sometimes it is difficult for both of us to continue to watch it happen, with no sign of improvement yet. I know it will take time but it's very hard. I will kepp praying and trust in God. Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to pray for my father. Thank you again, and praise the Lord.

God Bless,
Lindsey

Hello Lindsey,

I just joined and read your request. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.

I try to remember that God has a plan for all of us which is individual and unique and his wisdom and healing may come as a gentle whisper (by this I mean miracles don't need to be as dramatic as the parting of the Red Sea to be real and profound). Be alert to the small blessings (miracles) God bestows on you and your family daily and try to build on those positives.

Even at times when I have closed my door to God through selfishness, self-centeredness and pride over my 40+ years God has always been with me. Before I fully accepted God into my life I told a friend once that it felt like he kept knocking on the door and wanted to come in for a cup of tea and a chat. She told me he doesn't want to just visit, he wants to live with you!.

When asked by people why I am a Christian (and believe me some of my actions, despite my best efforts, are far from pure and might lead people to be shocked at times that I am one ) I tell them it's because I'm a sinner and I need God's forgiveness daily.

Stay strong in your faith and know that God will not leave you - even in the darkest valley.