Restoring Broken Relationships (Genesis 33:4)
But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
—Genesis 33:4
What a scene as Jacob and Esau are reunited. If you rewind a few chapters and remember the hatred between them—the deception Jacob practiced against Esau, Esau’s desire to kill Jacob, and Jacob fleeing for his life—this moment is astonishing. Now here they are, embracing one another and weeping together.
Oh, the power of God to restore broken relationships is all over this verse. And I want to lead us to pray for God to show that power in our own lives.
Genesis 33:4 explains how God can heal long-standing enmity.
Think about any relationships that come to mind when you think of brokenness—enmity, conflict, or tension. I do not know which relationships might come to mind for you: relationships in your life, in your family, with friends, in your church, at work, or even relationships you are aware of between others where tension exists.
Even tension in the world is part of the reason we pray for peace among the nations, because we are praying to the God who has the power to restore what is broken. So let us pray for that now.
God, whatever relationships are coming to our minds right now, we pray for restoration.
We confess that we are a broken people. We confess that our relationship with you was broken, and that this is the root of all our broken relationships with one another. Ultimately, we need restoration with you. Jesus, we praise you for making restoration with God possible through faith—faith in you and what you accomplished on the cross, through your sacrifice and your intercession for us.
Genesis 33:4 reveals God’s desire for peace among his people.
God, we praise you that through faith in Jesus we now have restored relationship with you. And in light of that restoring power, we pray that you would show your power to restore broken relationships with others.
God, we pray especially for broken relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. You have placed your Holy Spirit within us, giving us power to reconcile. You have broken down dividing walls of hostility. So please, God, show your power to restore. We pray specifically for any broken relationships we have with other followers of Jesus. Restore them, we ask.
Grant us wisdom to know how to pursue that restoration—to know what to do and to faithfully do whatever you are calling us to do to seek peace.
God, we pray this for all kinds of relationships, including relationships with those who are not followers of Jesus. Help us to live as your Word calls us to live—peaceably with all, so far as it depends on us. By the power of your Holy Spirit within us, help us pursue peace and live out of the overflow of your restoring love.
And God, we pray this among the nations. We pray for peace where there is war. Lord, we ask for an end to wars and for reconciliation among nations that are currently in conflict. We pray for the peace of Jesus to spread among all peoples.
A Prayer for the Turk People
Specifically, we pray for more than sixty-one million people in Turkey. God, please cause the peace of Jesus to spread throughout Turkey—for your glory—as Jesus is revealed as the Prince of Peace.
We pray all of this according to your Word and your power to restore.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
