By Natalie, Editress of Visionary Womanhood

Dear Heavenly Father,

I lift up these treasures that You have entrusted to my care during this brief life.  You are their Creator.  You are familiar with each cell in their bodies. You are familiar with each moment of their lives.  You know their strengths and weaknesses.  You know they are dust.

So far You have chosen to shield them from sorrow.  Their lives have marched forward full of feasting on the blessings of rich relationships, acceptance, opportunity, and resources.  They have never known hunger for food or love.

But a day is coming when they will look up from the beach and see a swelling tsunami in the distance.  This world is broken.  It isn’t “normal.”  There will be a rite of passage for them, as there is for all humanity.  It is for this surprising, shocking, heart-ripping day looming ahead that I fervently intercede on their behalf.

I praise You that You are greater than that day.  You are bigger than that event.  Your hand controls it and weaves it into the fabric of their lives before it even happens.  I thank You that You will BE THERE when it comes.  I bow to the truth that:

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

I do not ask that You hold back this storm.  You have said:

“Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  (James 1:2-3)

How would I have come to know, love, and fully rely on You without the heartaches You allowed in my own life?  Though the pain runs deep at times, I would not trade any of it for what You have given to me in exchange.  How I desire for my children to go deeper into Your love – to know You more intimately and love You more fully – than I ever dreamed.

This only comes through pain.

No.  Instead of asking for You to hold it back, I pray that You would hold them up.  Enable them to stand in the middle of it – confident, strong, trusting, surrendering.  “The one who trusts will never be dismayed.” (Isaiah 28:16)

May they not succumb to despair as those who have no hope or help.

I pray that Your grace would be poured out on them that day – and all the painful days to follow – enabling them to run to You, lean on You, trust You, and remain faithful to You.  May You strengthen their faith and deepen their roots in Your Word.  May Your truth be their stronghold.

I do not fear the swelling storm as much as I fear a swelling pride that would blind them to unseen realities.  God forbid that they rebel against You, shaking a fist in defiance, and separating themselves from all hope and healing.

May they not lose heart, but see eternal things in the darkness.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

I pray that they would see their lives wrapped up in You – every event, every day – replete with purpose, driving toward an ultimate climax of destiny and meaning.  Enable them to know You as the Master story teller – and to trust You with the rising action of the plot, knowing it will have an amazing ending.

Grant them the power to endure to the end.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  …if we endure, we will also reign with him;” (II Timothy 2:3, 12)

More than anything else I could ask for…more than health, more than material things, more than human love, more than comforts…I pray that You would be merciful to my children and save them by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Make them Your lambs.  Keep them for Your own.  Hide them in the shadow of Your wings.

It is my fervent, most heart-felt prayer, that one day I would stand before Your throne with every single child of mine…and all my posterity besides…and You would bestow on each one a crown of life.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

It is in the Name of Jesus Christ and for His Glory that I boldly come before You as Your child asking for these things,

Amen.