I remember the moment we decided it was time to start "trying." My husband was taking our dog down the slip-n-slide he had set up to play with in our backyard. I knew this man I loved needed children to play with alongside his beloved dog. Of course, God is the author of life, and his timing and plan for families is his alone. We began praying and doing our part to help bring new life into this world. Graciously, just a few months later, I shared the news after a long day with my husband that his future playmate and child was on the way!
The following months we blissfully barreled forward unto the great unknown of parenthood. We wrote letters to our growing child, photographed my growing body, and prepared our life as best we could for what was to come. In retrospect, I can now see clearly that the most important thing we could have done in that season of preparation and anticipation was to pray together!
There is nothing more life-altering than the journey toward parenthood. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to walk through the uncertainty that can arise when we begin to try but maybe face infertility; if we find ourselves expecting in a season of uncertainty, we need God's grace to give us comfort when we face fear and anxiety, and if all goes as expected we need God's wisdom to prepare our hearts and homes well for parenthood.
Here are some prayers to help you on this terrifying and exciting journey toward parenthood!
1. A Prayer for the Waiting
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Lord, I thank you that your word tells us that you know our children even before you begin to knit them together in the womb. Your call to parenthood is for such a time as this, and we ask that you would give us the strength, even in the journey towards parenthood, to trust that your timing and ways are sovereign. You are the giver of life, and we know you have a plan and purpose for our family. Help us to see you in every step of this journey. Remind us to lean on you when we feel discouraged, hurt, uncertain, or grieved. Let us find peace in the reality that you are the maker of families. You will give us a unique story in your time. May we be strengthened and encouraged in the waiting. Amen.
2. A Prayer of Encouragement When Feeling Uncertain About Parenthood
Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."
God, we are so thankful that you tell us that children are a gift! You see each little one. They are a reward, our heritage, and we get the privilege of sowing into the generations to come through our offspring. Even as we as parents face both joy and fear, please help us be reminded that you are here with us! We cannot do this alone. We need you to shepherd the precious life you are entrusting to us. Give us wisdom so we can see how to best prepare our lives for this child. Miraculously provide all we need to embrace this new season of life. Remind us that all the sacrifice with parenthood is worthwhile because these children are our precious reward from you. Let us focus on the gift you are giving us and silence the fear and doubt that would want to steal the joy of this season from our lives. Amen.
3. A Prayer for Your Child to Grow to Know God
Psalm 22:9-10 "Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God."
Father, may our children know you from their very first breaths. May they grow to be people that love you with all their hearts, mind, souls, and strength. Would you be their God! Care for them when we as parents fail. Protect them from the evil one. As they grow in the womb, may they develop perfectly. Give them a hope-filled future. Give them your heart, teach them your path, and show them your ways. Our children are ultimately yours; help us to be parents that reflect the fruits of the spirit in every season. Fill us with your wisdom so we can help them see you and your beauty in this fallen world. Amen.
4. A Prayer for Your Marriage
Genesis 2:24 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
God, I thank you for this one that you have given my soul to love. As we step forward together, following your command to 'be fruitful and multiply,' would you honor our desire to grow a family? Remove any unforeseen obstacles to us conceiving or growing our family through adoption. Be with us on this journey, strengthen us when we feel weak, and help us stay unified. Give us ears to hear each other as we express our joys, fears, exhaustion, delight, and more! Give us eyes to see each other even as our lives become more full. Jesus, help us to hold fast to one another. Learning, growing, and seeking your will for our family together. Amen.
5. A Prayer for Peace
Isaiah 26:3-4 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
God, parenthood and the journey toward it brings to mind so many reasons to be afraid. Yet, you tell us that children are a gift from you! We know this journey can be scary and filled with uncertainty. We ask that you would give us minds that are stayed on you as we begin this grand adventure. Fill our minds, bodies, and souls with your perfect peace. Be our rock. May we remember that no matter what we face in the future you are there with us! We are never alone. Go ahead of us, and make way for our family to grow and thrive. We love you, Lord. Amen.
Every family is unique! We each are given a just-us story to tell. Even if your family forms in a time or a way that you did not expect, you can trust that God's desire is to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine on our behalf (Ephesians 3:20). He loves you and your family. That is a firm truth you can hold onto, no matter what lies ahead on this wild journey!
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.