You know your child is anxious before they even say a word. Carefree smiles are few and far between. Headaches, nausea, and sleepless nights leave a wake of exhaustion behind them. In the overwhelm of daily tasks, your child buries their face in their pillow or their phone. Simple requests are met with resistance. Your efforts to connect and comfort fall flat, and you wonder what will light the spark in your precious son or daughter again.

As parents, we wish we could take our kids’ hurts and worries on ourselves. Yet we cannot step into their shoes at school. We can’t step onto the field, court, or stage to perform in their place. We can’t infuse gentle kindness into a threatening bully’s heart. No amount of social maneuvering can provide our kids with true, encouraging friends. Our efforts can’t rewire our kids’ neurology or repair the chemical imbalances in their brains. As stress consumes our children, we feel helpless and afraid.

What a comfort to know that God sees and loves our children, too. We can’t change our kids’ hearts, minds, or circumstances, but we can cry out to the One who can. In our child’s battle with anxiety, we can fight boldly for them on our knees.

In our own kids’ struggles with anxiety, we have experienced the power of praying the Word of God to make a difference.

Here are 5 Scriptures to help you lift up your child today:

1) “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” – Psalm 94:18-19

Lord God, my child is overwhelmed by fear and stress. They wonder how to hold on for one more day. Pressures to perform and measure up are crushing their spirit. My child needs Your help and comfort like never before.

Today, Lord, wrap my child in Your love. Fill them with strength to stand firm in the face of fear. Pull down their defenses so Your tender comfort can soothe and heal and plant seeds of hope. Kindle fresh joy and fill our home with delight in You and each other. Thank You for unfailing love that never lets us go. Amen.

2) “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” – Psalm 139:11-12

Lord, I can’t break through the wall of anxiety to reach my child. They have shut down. Gone silent. Given up. The light of life and hope has gone from their eyes. Lost in the darkness of their emotions, my precious child can only be found by You.

Reach out Your hand and take hold of my child today. Lead them to safety and peace. Give them eyes to see You are right here—always listening, protecting, and relentlessly loving Your own. Cut their fears down to size by the power of Your might. Give them faith to follow Your lead and depend on You for all they need. Let my child live in Your light forever. Amen.

3) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:7-8

Lord, Your ways are good. Your words are true. Your wisdom never steers us wrong. Yet we’re easily led by our emotions or the influence of this world. Peace and security give way to chaos and fear each time we try to go it alone.

Give my child a humble heart that will trust You and submit to Your Word. Let them know the freedom and ease of a clean conscience. Give my child courage to please You instead of striving to win the approval of others. When confused by difficult decisions or competing priorities, reveal your “good, pleasing and perfect will” that marks a clear path for their feet (Romans 12:2). Let them find comforting shelter under Your wing as they surrender to You in everything. Amen.

4) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31

Lord, my child feels small and insignificant. They wonder, Do I matter? Will I always be second-best? Would anyone notice if I wasn’t here? How will I live up to what others expect from me? Do I have to be perfect to be loved? Does anybody really see me or want to know me? If things get really, really bad, who has my back? My child is so vulnerable, and I feel helpless to protect them from a dark and scary world.

Today I put my child in Your hands. I know you will cherish them. You’ll go with them wherever they go. You will sustain their identity as Your precious creation—made with a plan and purpose in the image of God. Fill them with a sense of worth so they can face their future with bold confidence. Erase their fear of rejection and abandonment. Give unshakeable hope that You are in control and hold them securely. Build them up in Your love. Amen.

5) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” – Psalm 46:1-2

Lord, my child sees danger at every turn. Reports of violence, sickness, and natural disasters fill the news. A careless word of gossip can destroy their reputation. Each day holds pressure to perform and grow up too fast. The constant threat of harm is stealing happiness and the sweet innocence of childhood away.

Give my child assurance that in the turmoil of life in this world, You never change. You always get the last word. No one can snatch Your children from Your hand. You are infinitely greater than our enemies. Your promises never let us down. When we cry out to you for rescue, You always listen and respond. Your Word is unfailingly true. You love us entirely and forever. Be my child’s refuge and strength in whatever they face. Turn fear to unshakeable faith by Your Spirit’s power. Amen.

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My friend, we know life is tough and stress is real for all of our kids in these days. It would be a privilege to pray with you for whatever your child is struggling through right now. Reach out any time and know that Rob and I will take your prayer requests to God, together. Thank you for meeting us here on the blog today—we’re grateful to be walking the journey of parenthood with you!