A Parents’ Prayer for the Safety of their Children
God,
This world is hostile. And sometimes violence and pain fall on good and innocent people. As parents we see this and the insecurity these threats spark in us are sometimes immobilizing. We cannot insure the safety of our own children. Our reach is too short, and we can never even anticipate all the risks they might face. Often our imaginations run wild. Our fears for our children – and for ourselves seeing our children in danger or pain – can overwhelm us.
God, when we come to the end of our ability to control things we turn to You. We ask for Your protection over our children, over their choices, over the friends they make, over the encounters they have with other adults. God, stand guard.
We do not always understand how Your protection works, and why some who call to You are seemingly not kept safe. Still, we ask for Your presence in the lives of our kids. Who else can we trust, but You? We certainly cannot secure their lives ourselves. And You do promise to guard and protect when we ask.
‘The Lord is my refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.’ This is the promise we claim for our children. Be ever present with them, and keep them from danger and sickness and violence and foolishness and accidents of nature. Send angels to be beside them today. When we can’t trust ourselves, we trust You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.