If you’ve raised a child or children, you’ve likely realized that they weren’t the only ones maturing. Every milestone, rebellion, shared dream, broken heart, and brave adventure is an integral thread of immeasurable worth in the fabric of your family’s story.
And as you live with and love them more and more, you can’t escape the reality that in large part it’s all about letting go. Eighteen years (or more) for most of us, in the trajectory of life looks a lot shorter in hindsight as they leave the nest and fly.
A Prayer That Your Adult Children Will Seek God
Dear God, I know you created my children, not me. You have a special purpose and calling for their lives. Will you show yourself to be real in their lives today?
So many temptations vie for their attention, and so much is available without seeking. Stoke in them a hunger for your voice. Delight them in ways only you can, because you know every hair on their heads and every plan in their hearts. Establish their steps, Lord, (Prov. 16:9) so they are seeking wisdom in their decisions based on your truth.
Remind them that you alone are God. And when they seek you, Lord, uphold your promise that “those who seek me diligently find me.” (Proverbs 8:17)
In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Your Adult Children to Feel Loved
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will reassure my children that you are love. Remind them when they are lonely, or heartbroken, or scared, that I love them. And even more so, demonstrate for them how your love refills and renews them.
May they never feel unloved, no matter how many times the world will certainly hurt them, whether it be lovers, friends, supervisors, neighbors, or even their church.
A Prayer for Your Adult Children to Experience Peace
God, this world is so chaotic. We spin and fuss and fight and stress. I ask in Jesus’ name that you spread a blanket of calm over my adult children, giving them a supernatural peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:7).
Because you give not as the world gives (John 14:27), let their hearts be untroubled and help them not be afraid. Please provide for them, Father, the trust and courage they need to sleep well at night, knowing your plan and power are perfect.
Whisper to them that you are their safety and security when the storms of life come through. And that they can rest in the peace of knowing they belong to a family who will always be a safe place to rest their souls.
When trouble comes, move in, God. Quiet their minds and hearts if they race with worry…calling them to wherever you know they will find you.
A Prayer for Your Adult Children to Find Freedom in Forgiveness
Father, you are the only parent who gets it all right. You know what’s best, and only you are the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Remind me to always ask for their forgiveness for the ways I parent poorly, even if my intentions are good.
Help them to come to you with all the ways they’ve been hurt, misunderstood, or overlooked. If they experience betrayal, which I pray you would protect them from, please send them a clear sense of your abiding strength, and gently lead them to forgiveness in time.
A Prayer for Your Adult Children to Parent with Grace
Heavenly Father, it’s amazing to think that you designed the gift of children and went even further to offer the potential for parents to witness their own children becoming parents.
God, can you circle around whatever family my children create and remind them that this is their ministry, a gift of greatest calling, and that children are treasures to cherish? No matter what family structure they choose, or how they share the parenting, equip them, Lord. To speak life into their own children’s souls, with your truths.
Empower them, to let themselves and their children fail, explore, and fly.
A Prayer for Your Adult Children’s Protection
Sacred Lord, it is no secret that we live in a frightening world. As Elizabeth Stone tells, to have a child is “to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” There is oh so much that can go wrong.
As our children get older, they may be less likely to blunder and fall physically. But the mistakes that they can make get larger and larger, and more difficult to reverse.
Protect my children, Lord, from anything that will cause them harm. I know they will suffer, that is a part of life. But protect them from anything that you cannot use for their good.
Protect them from Satan’s schemes, protect them from the world’s influence, and in some cases, please protect them from themselves.
I know that you care about my children more than I ever could. Help my heart to remain steadfast in you, even as it walks around outside of my body.