“Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.’” 1 Samuel 2:1 (NIV)

I wanted to pinch myself as we drove home from the hospital. The police officer at the accident had said, “When we hear bike vs. car, we just cringe because of what it can mean.”

Hours earlier, my 7-year-old son Ethan was riding his bike with his little sister and my husband. As Ethan made a wide right turn in our quiet neighborhood, he expected the road to be empty. The approaching driver immediately stepped on the brake, but not before Ethan plowed right into his front bumper. The ambulance arrived before I could get there. Approaching that scene was one of the scariest moments of my life.

I began to pray.

Ethan was lying on the road softly crying, but his helmet looked normal, and he wasn’t bleeding anywhere. I told him not to worry because God was with him. By the end of that sobering day, my little second-grader was discharged from the hospital with a few bruises but nothing else wrong with him!

I praised and thanked God because He’d completely protected Ethan from injury. He answered my prayers for my son!

Hannah in the Old Testament was thankful too, because God answered her prayers, opening her barren womb, giving her a son. When God delivers us, we must remember to express our thanks. Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 focuses on God’s greatness, not her little Samuel’s cuteness. It reminds me that the God who blesses is greater than the blessing itself.

We read in 1 Samuel 2:1-2, “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.’”

One of the best gifts we can give children is the gift of prayer. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. You have a Heavenly Father who’s eager to answer. I’m still praying for my son Ethan who now rides his bicycle to high school. It’s hard to believe he’s grown so much! The streets are much bigger than they were years ago, and his needs are much greater. As children grow into adults, they need our prayers more than ever.

Not only prayers for physical protection, but more importantly, spiritual protection for their minds and hearts. Most parents are filled with questions like: Will my child do well in school? Will they try drugs or have sex? What kind of person will they marry? Will they still choose to follow God after high school? Are they becoming addicted to video games or social media? Let’s take all our questions to God through prayer.

Exchange your worries about your child’s future for praise. The future may be uncertain, but God is unchanging and fully capable of taking care of your child. Hannah praised God in the temple where she was leaving young Samuel for a life of service to God. She’d promised if God gave her a child, she would give him to serve God in the temple. She made good on her promise because God had made good on His.

Can God be trusted with our children? Absolutely! Does God always answer our prayers? Yes — although not always in the way (or timing) we desire. When children are away from home, we can pray but we need not worry. After all, God can take care of them much better than we can.

Lord Jesus, You are good. Please protect my children and deliver them from evil. Use them as a witness to their friends. May they grow strong and mighty in You filled with Your joy and compassion for others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Acts 17:28, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” (NIV)

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV)

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Looking to parent with godly confidence instead of fear? Arlene Pellicane’s latest book, Parents Rising: 8 Strategies for Raising Kids Who Love God, Respect Authority, and Value What’s Right, will equip you to parent boldly. Find it in the bookstore.

CONNECT:

Visit Arlene’s website to discover how you can connect with other moms to pray for your children.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

What are the main things you worry about for the kids in your life? Share your thoughts.

Turn these worries into prayers today. Offer God thanks and praise for meeting the deepest needs in the children you are praying for.