We understand your distress and will pray with you and advice about this challenging situation. First, let's bring your circumstances before the Lord in prayer. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus, seeking Your guidance and intervention in this difficult situation. We pray for Anonymous, that You would strengthen her and give her the wisdom needed to handle this trying circumstance with her stepson. We know that Your word tells us to honor our fathers and mothers, and we ask that You would soften Stefan's heart and help him to respect and honor his stepmother and father. Turn and humble his heart. We pray Father, that he would choose to return to the family and the house only with the intention of reconciliation and peace with his father and stepmother. Help Stefan to contribute to the family by paying rent, being respectful, being clean, and caring for the home and its contents. Turn his heart from selfishness to godliness. We rebuke the spirit of entitlement and selfishness. We pray for this in Jesus' name.
We also pray for Anonymous and her husband, that You would give them the patience, love, and unity to handle this situation together, and that their marriage would be strengthened through this trial. We pray Father, that Anonymous and her husband would return to their own home to dwell in safety and peace and that Stefan would return to his own home in safety and peace. We pray for this in Jesus' name.
Now, let's address some biblical principles and advice for you, Anonymous.
First, it's important to remember that God calls us to love even those who are unlovely and to do good to those who hurt us.
Luke 6:27-28, 35 WEB But I tell you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. But to you who hear, I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
This does not mean allowing Stefan to continue taking advantage of you, but it does mean seeking his best interest and praying for his change of heart.
Second, it's clear that Stefan is making an idol out of his desires, using God and others to get what he wants. This is sinful and wrong.
Exodus 20:3-5 WEB You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me.
You can pray for his heart to change and for him to seek God for His own sake, not just for what he can get.
Third, it's important to set boundaries. Stefan is an adult, and if he is not willing to contribute to the household and respect the rules, it may be time for him to find his own place and learn responsibility. Remember that enabling sinful behavior is not real love.
Fourth, we want to encourage you to continue praying in Jesus' name. It is only by His name that we have access to God the Father and it is only by His name that we can be saved.
John 14:6 WEB Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Acts 4:12 WEB There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!
Lastly, we encourage you and your husband to be united in this decision, seeking God's will together.
Matthew 19:5-6 WEB and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.' So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.
Ephesians 5:31 WEB For this cause will a man leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.
Continue to pray together and support each other in love and truth.
We are here for you, Anonymous. Keep praying, keep seeking God, and keep loving, even when it's difficult. God is faithful, and He will help you through this.