Back-to-School Promises for an Anxious Heart
“May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.“
Psalm 115:14 NIV
It’s been a minute since I’ve done the back-to-school thing, but whether you’re sending
a toddler to preschool with a nap mat under her arm or a teenager to college with a new mattress topper and a whole bed-in-a-bag, I imagine you might have a few questions.
Will your child find good friends? Is she going to be safe? Will he struggle with peer pressure or the academic workload? Can God be trusted to watch over your child when he or she is out of your reach?
I wish you and I could sit down together as this new school year begins. I’d ask you
what you’re excited about, what specific concerns you might have, and how I can pray.
And I’d share a few promises that helped calm my own anxious heart, back in the day.
Scripture to Lean On in the School Year
For instance, I found great encouragement from passages like Psalm 121, which says
that God will “will not let your foot slip” (a promise I returned to again and again as my
son competed in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse), and that as he watches over our
children, he will “neither slumber nor sleep” (a vision I clung to as a young mom when I
could barely keep my own eyes open long enough to make it through bath time).
Best of all, I loved the reassurance that came at the end of the psalm:
The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch
over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)
Holding on to that Psalm 121 promise, and knowing that even when my children were out of my reach they were never out of God’s, equipped me to parent from a place of confidence and peace rather than uncertainty or even panic. Still, there were times when I felt like I needed God’s provision and grace for a specific need. That’s where praying particular scriptures came in.
3 Prayers for the Back-to-School Season
For instance, when we’d hear the school bus rumble up the street, I’d often say a quick
prayer for the children’s safety as I bundled them out the door: “Spread your protection over them, Lord; surround them with your favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:11-12)
When one child or another faced hurtful words or some other friendship (or sibling!)
challenge, I’d ask God to give them an extra measure of grace: “Teach them to be kind
and compassionate to others, being quick to forgive, just like you forgave.” (Ephesians
4:2)
And when our eldest daughter went off to college (where I knew she’d need to be
prepared for a wide variety of classes, teaching styles, social situations, and volunteer
opportunities), I borrowed the attributes that the Bible uses to describe Daniel and his
friends. I asked God to help her “show aptitude for every kind of learning, be well-
informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve.” (Daniel 1:4)
Looking back, there was no need my kids faced—in their relationships, their faith, their
character or anything else—that God had not already thought of and provided for in His Word. And over the years, as I learned to slip my hand into God’s, trusting him to bring about his best purposes in my children’s lives (even when it didn’t look like the answer to prayer that I was expecting or wanted), I discovered his peace.
In His Word
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
In Your Life
What are you anxious about as you send your kids back to school? What specific
prayers or hopes do you have as you look ahead to the coming year? Where do you
find it hard to trust God?
Take another look at the words of Psalm 121. Choose one verse or promise to reflect
on today, knowing that just as God watches over our children, he is also watching over
our lives—and he is always ready to help.
We Recommend
Discover more about what it looks like to trust God with your children and access
hundreds of biblically based prayers in Jodie Berndt’s bestselling books, Praying the
Scriptures for Your Children, Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens, and Praying the
Scriptures for Your Adult Children.
Let’s Connect
Connect with Jodie on Instagram at @jodie_berndt and via her email newsletter, and please visit jodieberndt.com to access free resources like printable prayer cards and calendars, encouraging videos, and study guides for group or individual use.
(Also, check her out on the Mom Life Unscripted program… LOVE!)