A prayer for women impacted by domestic violence - Banksia Women

 https://www.banksiawomen.org.au/banksia-women/posts/a-prayer-for-women-impacted-by-domestic-violence

Written and posted by Naomi (April 8, 2025)

Father God,

We pray alongside Hannah and praise you:

“There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; 

there is no Rock like our God.” 

We thank you that Scripture makes it abundantly clear that 

you look with favour upon those who are humble, and that 

by your strength the humble are lifted up.

We thank you for Jesus’ example: 

the way he took time to see and speak to the woman 

who had been suffering with sickness and poverty for 12 years, 

and how he defended the outcast woman who anointed him 

with her tears and precious perfume. 

With Mother Mary we pray:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” 

Our hearts are breaking as we think of the many humble women 

who are suffering as a result of violence or abuse 

they have experienced in their home. 

Whether this has left them hurting on the outside or 

the inside we know this is not how you designed people to live. 

It is because of human sinfulness that our world is so far 

from what it should be. 

We are sorry for the role churches have sometimes played in failing 

to protect and properly care for vulnerable women, and 

for times we ourselves have been insensitive, or failed to listen or 

take the time to understand.

We pray for the women who are right now 

enduring abuse in their homes, trapped and unable to leave. 

There are those who are scarred and wounded, bracing themselves 

against the next outburst; those being forced to do things 

they don’t want to do; and those who don’t have 

the freedom to do the things they want to do

each group living like prisoners in their own lives. 

Please show them the path to safety. Show them that they are not alone. 

Place people around them who see the invisible burden they are 

bravely shouldering, people who can help. 

Shine a light on that next step they need to take so they can escape 

the cycle of abuse.

We pray for the women who have taken that step—

who have left their unsafe homes—but are now facing an uncertain future. 

Be with them as they navigate living arrangements, court appearances, 

single parenting, unstable finances, loss of community and so much more. 

We pray for the many services across Australia who help women through 

this time. Give them the right staff members, volunteers and funding to 

properly care for every woman who needs help. 

We pray that you would provide more people to work in this sector, 

which is under so much strain, and that the load would be lightened 

for those who are at their emotional capacity.

We pray for women who have passed through the time of crisis 

but are still suffering from the trauma they experienced. 

Despite being removed from a place of immediate danger, 

there are so many ways their lives are still impacted. 

We pray that you will remove the temptation to turn to harmful behaviours 

to mask the pain, like taking drugs or pursuing another 

potentially destructive relationship. 

Comfort them in their loneliness and surround them with people 

who understand. Give them patience and 

grow their self-confidence and ability 

to reclaim their lives as they continue to work on their recovery.

We also pray for those women who are in potentially harmful relationships 

but are unable to see the warning signs. 

Open their eyes to the reality of their situation, and prompt them 

to ask a trusted friend or professional for help. 

We pray that as terms like ‘coercive control’ and ‘financial abuse’ 

become better understood, that this would lead to 

more women recognising the signs in their own or 

their friends’ relationships and that they would find help 

before things escalate.

And we pray for those of us here who could 

one day be that trusted friend. Help us to recognise abuse 

when confronted with the signs, and to label it for what it is. 

Give us the insight and courage needed 

to protect vulnerable women against their powerful abusers.

 

Most of all, we pray for a world that is free from pain, 

where people know your love. We thank you for the promise of the Bible, 

that when Jesus returns you will live among us, 

wiping every tear from our eyes. 

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, 

for the old order of things will have passed away.

We pray that as your people, we can 

work towards showing women a glimpse of that future reality. 

We pray that churches would be places of safety and beacons of light. 

Places where women are believed and are given space 

to grieve, heal and recover in a community of people who support them. 

May women who have been abused know your unfailing and abundant love.

We pray all this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.