Two Bedtime Prayers for Weary Parents

Each night, God will begin to cultivate in us the compassionate heart of Jesus. He sees our children as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). As we pray, the irritations of the day will melt into gentle, soft pleading on behalf of our children who do not comprehend the wrath that awaits sinful and grumbling souls who do not repent. When it comes to this kind of intercessory prayer, Paul tells us, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3–4).

Ultimately, this is a prayer of trust. It tells God, “I trust you with the life of this child. I trust the gospel. I trust that you want to save sinners, just like my little boy, my little girl.” God has placed that child in your family and under your loving care for a purpose. Plead with him to forgive through the blood of Jesus and pray that in his good time he will bring salvation.

A Father to You and Your Children

Both prayers begin with one of the most gracious words in the Christian parent’s vocabulary: Father. In the midst of parenting failures and struggles, it’s easy to forget that we have a heavenly Father who is watching over us in love. No one can put it better than the apostle: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!” (1 John 3:1).

At the end of a taxing day, as you kneel bedside with your kids, find comfort in the Father who is also laying your tired heart to rest. The final moments before your children fall asleep could become your most treasured moments together. May these prayers help your family grow in the grace of God our Savior.