How to Pray on the First Day of School
A guide for worried parents.
Today is my oldest son’s first day of 1st grade.
As a parent, this day feels like too much. I am relieved as we return to a routine, and joyful to watch my son grow before my eyes. Yet what makes it overwhelming is the worry and anxiety that come with entrusting him to the care of others. Every parent knows this tension.
For parents of non-verbal or disabled children like mine, these emotions are amplified exponentially. When your child cannot tell you what happened at school each day, it magnifies the normal concerns. Like every parent, you worry about things like school shootings, bullying, or whether your child is progressing as you hoped—but with the added weight that, unless you are diligent, you have little direct access to what is happening in your child’s world.
Sending our child into public school was not part of our original plan. We had always desired to homeschool. Yet God, in His providence, placed us here for this season. Our local schools provide my son with the therapies and interventions he needs for his autism. So, each year, we step out in faith—seeking the Lord and remembering that, ultimately, it is our responsibility as parents to raise our boys in both their education and their faith.
God has provided the means for us—and for you—regardless of how you choose to educate your child. So how, on days like this, do we pray?
Pray Knowing They Are Eternal Souls
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Your children are created in the image of God. Their chief purpose is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. It matters more that they know the Lord and follow Him than whether they master multiplication tables. Academic success is temporary; salvation and spiritual life in Christ are eternal. Pray that your children will know Him, trust Him, and live for His glory.
Pray Knowing God Loves Them More Than You Do
Matthew 18:5–6 – “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Jesus made clear the precious value of young children in the sight of God. He knows every hair on your child’s head (Luke 12:7). He knows every bully they will face and every teacher they will encounter—both those who teach with kindness and those who do not. As you pray for them, rest in the truth that His love for them surpasses your own.
Pray Knowing That Trust in the Lord Is the Foundation of Knowledge
Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
A good education starts with reverence for God. Pray that your children will grow in true wisdom—the kind that begins with trusting Him. Whether they are learning to read, write, or solve math problems, pray that their minds will be shaped by truth, their hearts grounded in Scripture, and their character formed by the gospel.
Pray for Those Influencing Your Children
Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Teachers, coaches, bus drivers, administrators, and classmates all have a role in your child’s daily life. Pray for them to act with integrity, compassion, and wisdom. Pray that the Lord would place godly influences in your child’s path and protect them from harmful ones. Ask God to use you as a light and witness in your school community.
As the school year begins, let us remember that while we cannot control every detail of our children’s days, we can entrust them to the One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). Whether they are in public school, private school, or homeschooled, they are first and foremost the Lord’s.
We are grateful for our community and the love and support they show. We are grateful that we can entrust our son to his school. We are grateful for the teachers, aides, and therapists who work with him. But above all, we are grateful to the Lord, who watches over him every single day.
So we pray—not because it removes every fear, but because it anchors our hearts in the God who loves them more than we do, guides their steps, and holds their future secure.