Prayers for Families in Crisis

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
Is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 68:5

Children who spend time in foster care often face serious challenges later in life. Not only are they more likely to experience teen pregnancy, homelessness, incarceration, and mental health issues, but they are also less likely to complete their education or find employment. In New York City, nearly half of foster youth face unemployment upon aging out of the system. There are currently more than 9,000 New York City children in foster care and more than 1,000 children are adopted out of the system each year.

And so we come to the Father on behalf of these children and their families because we know that, especially in the midst of crisis, our God is a Father to the fatherless and a protector of widows. Let us pray:

• for families in crisis or struggling to make ends meet, that they would find the support from local church communities and the services from local organizations they need to thrive. Lord, we ask that you comfort families experiencing crisis situations. Would we as your people truly heed your command to care for orphans and widows in their distress. We pray struggling families would know that your yoke is easy and burden light as you offer rest for their souls.

• for new moms and dads who are navigating parenting by themselves or for the first time to be able to provide for their babies and to receive guidance as they lead their families. God, we know that in you we have a perfect Father. We ask that these earthly parents would look to you as their example of a loving, forgiving, patient Father and seek to emulate You as they raise their children. And would communities come alongside them to offer help, guidance, and resources as they navigate parenting in this often-overwhelming and expensive city.

• for the children of these families, that their homes would be a safe and loving place, and that they would know the great love of the Father who cares deeply about the weak and vulnerable. Father, we thank you that you provide immeasurable love to the little ones in our city. We pray that you would protect them both inside their homes and in their larger neighborhoods and communities. Would violence not touch them. Would they know that You hold them in your righteous right hand and would they, even in their youth, turn to You and cry, “Abba, Father.”

• for organizations providing support to families like Safe Families for Children and Inwood House that their services would give confidence and guidance to parents, bring comfort and joy to children, and establish encouraging community around these families. Thank you, Lord, for those in this city who’ve answered Your call to serve our neighbors in very real ways. We pray that organizations seeking to provide support and community to suffering and struggling parents and children would be well resourced and continually motivated to carry out the work of seeing Your Kingdom manifested in this city. We thank you for their hearts.