A Prayer For When Your Child Has Broken Trust

A Prayer for When Your Child Has Broken Trust

We don’t want to believe

Our child is capable of inflicting pain

Through lies or other choices.

But we know this is what it is to be human.

To be fully alive is to take wrong turns,

To choose the wrong door,

And even to inflict hurt or harm on another,

With what is said

Or left unsaid.

We pray for reconciliation—

For what is broken to be repaired,

Like the teddy bear we mended long ago,

Sewing the seams

To make it stronger.

Help our child learn from this,

Sitting in remorse but not weighed down by shame.

Help [child’s name] return to their heart

And return to Your love.

God, not one person

Is ever too far away

That Your light can’t find them.

In whatever choices were made—

Words used, actions taken,

Help us parent in each moment

With compassion and care.

Through Christ alone,

Restore that which was harmed.

Heal what has been broken.

And may we have the foresight to know

When to step away.

Give us wisdom and patience,

Compassion and gentleness.

Help us in this moment

To teach as You’d have us teach,

Love as You’d have us love.

Where hearts are hardened,

Will You soften them?

Where feelings are hurt,

Will You repair bonds?

Where trust was broken,

Will You heal the wound?

Where regrets were made

(Or perhaps there’s no remorse at all),

Will You bring holy conviction?

Help us remember that we cannot control

Each decision our child makes.

We pray that truth would flood any lies

Believed or harbored in our family’s hearts.

Give us wisdom

When situations arise

That we never expected—

A lie that breaks our hearts,

Reverberates through our home.

God, You hold this family in Your hands.

Help us release what is not ours to hold

So we can give all our hearts

And all the brokenness

To You.

Luke 17:3-4; Ephesians 4:25