Praying for our Adult Children – Part One
Our Prayers Work!
“‘Your parenting in the flesh is over,’ she said softly. ‘It’s time to parent him in the Spirit. Pray for your son and trust God to do what you cannot do — and He will,’ she added confidently.”– Karen O’Conner
Do you often ask if your grown children will meet the right spouse, have a steady career, or have a strong foundation of faith? Will they be protected against life’s extreme hardships, addiction, divorce, or financial loss?
Concerns like this are common these days for parents everywhere. Parents ask what can I do, and who do I turn to for help? What do I pray?
Moms, Dads, and grandparents – know that you can find peace and comfort when you raise up your adult children through prayer! In this 2-part series we will examine those questions.
When our children are young, we pray for their safety and friendships, that they will make the right choices. If you are Christian, you pray that they will have a relationship with Jesus.
However, why is it when we see them all grown up we tend to worry, rather than trusting God and hitting our knees in prayer?
Some parents feel that once their children reach a certain age or graduate from college “that’s a wrap” – they no longer have to be the parent just their friend, until lightening strikes and he or she has fallen into substance abuse, gone through a divorce, or sickness and this list goes on and on….
Sometimes it takes something close to that for parents to start praying, but know it’s never too late to pray for your kids no matter what age they are. Parenting never stops and praying for your children should never stop. The truth is, you never cease being a parent who deeply cares about your child’s well being. No matter what age they are or what age you are.
Most of the prayer requests I’ve received over the last several years have been to pray for someone’s adult child. Time and again I hear from church leaders and bible study friends and co- workers that their main concerns for this season are their grown kids. I know my husband and I have our own prayer ritual for our daughters that petitions God for their future all the time.
The things confronting adult children today sometimes carry even greater circumstances than when we were young. The world is a frightening place with evil surrounding us at every opportunity, enough to drive us crazy with concern. As parents, we may not feel equipped to change or help our kids with every big obstacle they face, but we know there is someone who can.
Know each of us can take our concerns to the Lord. Our prayers have power toaffect change in their lives. Trust that He hears your heartfelt prayers and He will answer them.
I know this personally. My youngest daughter grew up in a faith-filled, church-going family, attending Christian schools throughout her youth. Yet, she started struggling with her faith during college as many young adults do, surrounded by nonbelievers, and many others with a different set of values than the ones she grew up with.
I found myself overcome with worry. I immediately went to God with fervent prayers and asked my prayers sisters for intercessory prayer. I prayed she would open her heart and have a relationship with the Lord to love and serve Him only. Three years after college her faith has become one of trust, prayer and relationship. Still today, I praise God for those answered prayers and her journey continues today.
God hears our prayers, and He answers them. How do we know? When praying here are a few things you can know and believe about God:
1 – God is bigger and greater than any of your adult children’s problems.Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”Know it and trust in it! Luke 18:27
2 – God can deliver you from any fears you have for your adult children.David wrote: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me;He delivered me from all my fears.”Know it and trust in it! Psalm 34:4
3 – Because the love and power of God dwells within us, believe that your prayers for your adult children will always have power and be an investment in their future.Paul wrote to the Romans: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”Know it and trust in it! Romans 5:5
The Holy Spirit is the power of God and when you have that power working in your life you have hope for all of your Adult children’s problems. You will have hope because your prayers have power, and hope is absolutely everything.
Blessings