Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder and is becoming more prevalent in today's teenagers. About 31% of teens are estimated to have an anxiety disorder, and about 8% of teens report having a severe anxiety disorder. Teen girls experience anxiety at higher rates than boys, and we see anxiety disorders are highest among teens aged 17 to 18.
Anxiety is no longer a rare struggle, and parents need God’s help, wisdom, strength, and comfort as they walk with their child as they handle mental health disorders. It can be a heavy burden for parents to shoulder as they walk alongside a once-vibrant child who is now paralyzed by fear and worry.
Thankfully, we don’t have to carry this burden alone; the God who sees us and promises to gently lead us parents through these challenging moments (Isaiah 40:11).
Let’s seek God, asking him to intervene on behalf of our child, to guide us as parents as we help our child find peace, and help us advocate for the right changes in our children’s lives and our culture necessary to live free of anxiety.
1. Take His Easy Yoke
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
Father,
Our home feels weary and burdened right now. Please come and hold this heavy load for us. Let us embrace your gentle yoke. Give us a humble heart that admits we need you. We can’t solve this without help from Heaven. Bring our souls rest, remind us we always have hope when you are our God. Bring fresh life and joy into our home.
Amen.
2. Fear Not for I Am Your God
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
Father,
We ask that you would be the power that banishes all fear from my heart and my child’s mind. Let them know that you are always with them. You hold them close every day. Remind them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made for a God-given purpose. Uphold them as they continue to grow and mature. Draw close to them and bring comfort to their troubled hearts.
Amen.
3. Cast Your Burden on the Lord
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you and never permit the righteous to be moved." - Psalm 55:22
God,
We thank you for being our provision and great sustainer. You hold the righteous steady in the palm of your hand. We hand our burden of anxiety over to you for ourselves and our child. We ask that you provide all that we need to overcome this struggle. Bring the right therapist, doctors, mentors, healthy habits, and lifestyle changes into our lives. Grant us your wisdom on how to find a breakthrough and peace in our home. Please provide us with all we need for this challenge.
Amen.
4. Helper
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:6
Jesus,
I thank you for being our helper. You help me, as a parent, know how to love my child well through every age, stage, and challenge. Help me and my spouse to remain unified as we do all we can to love our child well. God, I thank you for also assisting my child. I pray that they will feel you close. They will grow to know you as their friend. Your peace will overcome the fear that is so rampant in this world, and guard their hearts and minds.
Amen.
5. A Good Word
"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." - Proverbs 12:25
God,
Provide me with a good word for my child. Please give me the tools I need to help bring gladness into my child’s life, to offer them lightness in a heavy world, and to inspire joy when fear is commonplace. Would your Holy Spirit go before me and prepare a space in my child’s heart to receive encouragement and hope? Let them feel God’s love and my love. Let these moments, these words, these prayers touch and heal their heavy hearts.
Amen.
6. Say to Those with an Anxious Heart
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” - Isaiah 35:4
God,
We ask that your Holy Spirit would say to my child’s heart Be strong, fear not! Would they be reminded that God is powerful and has come to save us! He is our strong tower; we can run to him when we have a need. Would your Holy Spirit do what only it can do. Bring peace where there is fear and anxiety. Bring love and light where there has been loneliness and darkness. Let your miracle-working power intervene and bring change in my child’s life.
Aman.
7. A Prayer for Wisdom
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." -Proverbs 2:6
God,
Give us the wisdom we need to address the feelings of anxiety that my child is contending with. Please show us what we need to change, shield them from, what triggers we need to neutralize, and what habits will lead to health. Bring wisdom to our world as it navigates more fear, as we are inundated with more information. Let truth and healthy living become part of our culture. Change the tide, as we see more teens being tormented by anxiety. Please help us find more ways to promote peace in our world and for the next generation.
Amen.
8. He Gently Leads Us
"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." - Isaiah 40:11
Father,
We thank you for being our leader. We need you to help us, guide us, and comfort us as parents. Show us your ways and teach us your paths. Let us remember you are for us and for your children. Draw near to us, as we draw near to you. Honor our requests for wisdom and peace in our homes. We love you, Lord, and are so grateful that you go before us every day.
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Dima Berlin
