This prayer for children and grandchildren going through difficulties asks God to “keep them in His pocket” so they can learn to trust Him no matter what happens in their lives.
Should we try and save our children and grandchildren from all their problems?
My temptation as a mother and grandmother is to save my children from pain, sadness, sickness, struggle, financial challenges.
In reality, I can’t save them. Even if I could, it would be wrong for me to inject myself into their lives as their savior from all suffering.
Jesus was right. “Every day has enough trouble of its own.”(Matthew 6:34 NIV) Even before we pry open our eyes, yawn ourselves awake or rummage for comfy slippers, the day’s troubles are patiently waiting and whistling on our doorsteps.
Life has countless concerns: sick children, adolescents who struggle in school, job loss, broken appliances and broken relationships, financial agony, accidents and natural catastrophes, rejection, disillusionment, grim illness, misunderstandings, uncertainty about the future, loneliness and grief.
Yes, “Every day has enough trouble of its own.”
Table of contents
What does it mean to be in God’s pocket?
More than twenty years ago, we met our Welsh friends, Linda and Hedley Dent, in a French Language School, Les Cedres, in a suburb of Paris. They had two young children, Fiona (4) and John Mark (2). Fiona and our daughter, Joy, were in the same kindergarten class at L’Ecole Maternelle.
At least once a week, the Dents would invite Joy for teatime. Linda and Hedley were playful and loving. One day, at tea, they served Joy snake’s feet– radishes with butter.
The Dents worked in French Churches for many years before returning to Wales. A rare liver disorder drained all strength from the tall, sandy-haired Hedley. Linda, a registered nurse, became his affectionate caregiver. In June of 2009, Hedley went to heaven, leaving Linda, Fiona and John Mark without the loving husband and father they cherished.
Hedley’s death brought many challenges for Linda. Some days the ache has been overpowering. Over time, she has learned to honor and mourn the loss of Hedley while still enjoying the life she shares with her grown children
She sings in a well-known Welsh choir. The group has recently released a CD of hymns. She works part-time in a Christian bookstore and many summers works as a volunteer at a Christian Ca
Together, Linda, Fiona and John Mark weather the economic strains that so many in Wales are bearing. Through prayer, practical help and laughter, they generously give one another love and support.
I recently asked Linda how she was doing. Hedley’s birthday was soon approaching. Without hesitation she replied, “I’m in God’s pocket.”
That is true faith.
“Every day has enough trouble of its own.” Linda’s example has taught me that difficulties are not the only thing sitting on our doorstep.
Troubles may arrive before us, but so has Jesus. He knows our needs. He knows our sorrows. He is there to comfort us. We are in His pocket.
The troubles of life can draw our children and grandchildren close to God and strengthen their faith.
May they never be cheated of the sweet experience of nestling in God’s pocket.
Prayer for children and grandchildren going through life problems and difficulties
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You go ahead of us and are completely aware of the troubles we face today as well as those we soon will be facing. When we arrive at a day of trouble, may we also look for your Presence – because we know that You are already there.
Lord, I pray that as my children and grandchildren experience the countless difficulties of life, they will find their strength and comfort in you. May they make a conscious choice to stay close to you, to believe in you and to rest in your pocket.
Thank you, Lord, for my friend who has been a living example of trusting you in the midst of loss. Bless all those who, like she, are enduring pain and loneliness today. May you be their eternal comfort and great joy. I ask that You would be the comfort and joy of my children and grandchildren all the days of their lives.
Scriptures to Pray
+ that our children and grandchildren will understand that God can use trials to increase their faith (James 1:2 NIV)
+ that our children and grandchildren will believe even the difficulties of life can work for their good (Romans 8:28)
+ that our children and grandchildren will know that God cares for them and that they can cast all their worries at His feet (I Peter 5:7)
+ that in the tragedies of life, our children and grandchildren will experience being carried close to the heart of God (Isaiah 40:11)
When you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.
-Frances de Sales
Cast all your care upon Him because He cares for you.
– I Peter 5:7
Links
Listing of Kay’s book A Grandmother’s Prayers: 60 Days of Devotions and Prayers
How to pray for your children
Prayer for adult children with problems
Parents prayer when your hopes for your child are disappointed
Copyright 2015 Kay Swatkowski. All rights reserved. Used by permission from the author.
prayerideas.org
by Peggie Minard (Fresno, Texas)
In the Name of Jesus, I have been through many trials and tribulations. In each situation many thorns were thrown in. I forgive all the people that have hurt me in my life. I forgive them with all my heart in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Also, I forgive myself for complaining and I ask for God ‘ forgiveness. I pray for God’s love and happiness. Amen and Amen
I pray that my Lord Jesus Christ will heal my great granddaughter and that the cyst on her forehead disappear forever and never come back. I pray for God’s perfect intervention for my four month old great, granddaughter in the Name of Jesus Christ. In faith and belief I know that my God is listening and heals her immediately. Amen and Amen .
I pray that my other great granddaughter is return to us in good spirit, peace and unharmed in any way. I pray that my God touches her father and let him know how he took her was wrong. I that he comes back and talk with my granddaughter and work out a reasonable solution that is fair for both of them in the Name of my Lord Jesus and Savior. Amen and Amen
My prayer is also to my other two granddaughters and grandsons that they are protected from the evils of the world. I pray that they are all blessed with good health, common sense, great financial blessing and long happy lives in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen
I have done all that I can in Jesus’ name and I am depending on God to carry through. Amen
Return to 7 Daily Prayers to Get You Through The Week
www.praywithme.com
Prayers for Children and Grandchildren
The following prayers were prepared by Arnold Burron, professor emeritus at the University of Northern Colorado, using The Bible: An American Translation. Each prayer is paraphrased directly from the Scriptures. Professor Burron did some pluralizing of pronouns to make the text easier to use in prayer form.
Philippians 1:9-11: “I pray that ____________________ will grow in their love for God. I pray that they will learn more about God, and that they will grow in godly wisdom. I pray that they will understand how much Christ loves them, so that their lives will be filled with good deeds that glorify God. Amen.”
Ephesians 1:17-19: “I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, to give ____________________ His Spirit to make ____________________ wise and reveal the truth to ____________________. I ask You, Lord, to enlighten the eyes of ____________________ mind so that ____________________ will really appreciate the wonderful hope of heaven that God gives them. I pray that they will really appreciate the fantastic riches of heaven that are waiting for them. I pray that they will understand that God’s awesome power is working in them and for them. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21: “Holy Spirit, I pray that you will inwardly strengthen ____________________ with power. I pray that Christ will live in ____________________ heart by faith, and that ____________________ will be firmly rooted and built up in love. I pray for these things so that ____________________ will be able to grasp how broad, and long, and high, and deep God’s love is so that ____________________ will know how much Christ loves us—more than we can possibly imagine—so that ____________________ will be filled with all that is in God.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13: “Lord, help ____________________ grow in love and overflow with it for others, just as I love ____________________, and give ____________________ inward strength to be holy and without a fault before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones! Amen.”
Colossians 1:9-13: “Lord God, I ask you to fill ____________________ with a clear knowledge of every kind of spiritual wisdom and understanding. Let them use that spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they will always aim to please God in every way by producing good works. I ask You to help ____________________ to grow in the knowledge of God. I ask You, in your wonderful might, to strengthen ____________________ with all the power necessary to endure patiently whatever comes to them. I ask you, God, to enable them to joyfully thank the Father for everything, by helping ____________________ to really know that what we will someday inherit is so wonderful that we cannot begin to understand it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:17 and 3:1-2, 5: “1 pray that You will inwardly comfort and strengthen____________________ to do and say everything that is good. I pray that You will protect ____________________ from wrong minded and wicked people. Lead ____________________ to realize how much God loves them, and how patiently Christ suffered for them. Amen.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “Lord, I pray that You will make ____________________ worthy of your calling and by Your power accomplish every good thing ____________________ decides to do, so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified. I pray that You will do this because of the undeserved love You have for us as a result of what
Jesus did for us.”
Hebrews 13:20-21: “God of peace, Who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus … please give ____________________ every good thing they need, to do what You want them to do, and work in all of us through Jesus Christ to do what pleases you.”
St. Paul gives us an example of how often we should pray:
2 Timothy 1:3: “I thank God … when I remember you in my prayers, as I never fail to do day and night.”
(Source: The Bible: An American Translation, Dr. William Beck; Paraphrased prayers: Dr. Arnold Burron, www.mountainavenue.us)
www.lutheransforlife.org
