Skip to content ↓

A Parent’s Prayer for an Unbelieving Child

Being the Answer to Prayer

I have become quite a fan of Kathleen Nielson’s new set of prayer books for parents. Through four short volumes she provides prayers for parents of young children, of teens, of young adults, and of adult children. This prayer is from the volume dedicated to prayers for young adults and asks the Lord to save an unbelieving child.

Break your light upon my child’s heart, O Lord who only said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. You sent your light into this world, a light that shines in darkness and is not ever overcome.

O shine the light of Jesus in his heart, merciful Father, by your Spirit, that my child may believe.

Thank you, sovereign God, that you hold my beloved child in your hand. You always have, and all my efforts—sometimes feeble or foolish, sometimes wise—you know, you use, according to your plan. I know that you are sovereign and that you are good, and so I still my yearning soul before your throne.

In you is life, fully revealed and given in your Son who died for sinners who deserve that death, who rose that sinners who believe might live. Enlarge my heart, I pray, to yearn for many sinners to believe and live.

But now I stop to pray again, and I will pray again, O Lord of life: please shine the light of Jesus in his heart, that my child may believe.


  • Feasting

    Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

    God’s path of wisdom for you is both serious and delightful—more of both than you might expect. Following Christ will both deepen you and free you. It’s a brilliant strategy for glad sanity and steady integrity—all the way.

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (May 8)

    Sunday style and the devil’s beat / The mortification equation / The cult of pastoral vulnerability / Friday funnies / Greet one another with a … what? / Before it’s an emergency / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (May 7)

    I will go to him / A letter to those discouraged by fallen pastors / Richard Dawkins / The most powerful words you’ll ever write / Eight myths about heaven / God alone is Lord of the conscience / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The End of Raising Children

    The End of Raising Children

    Michaela is a married woman! We enjoyed a simple ceremony on Monday afternoon and, after a sweet reception, she and Caleb hit the road to begin their new life together. And just like that, Aileen and I are finished raising children.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 6)

    A La Carte: Eugenics as self-loathing / Raise kids to be reality respecters / The pastoral virtue of avoidance / Live son or dead daughter? / The sin we’ve stopped taking seriously / Evaluating cultural Christianity / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 5)

    Conspiracy and the Christian / The algorithm is changing how we speak / Values AI suggests / When darkness descends / The incredible human hand / A culture of chronic doubt / and more.