God’s Got This: Praying For Kids In Foster Careናሙና

Prayers for the Families on the Front Lines

Yesterday we prayed for the church  to step into their calling to care for God’s kids. Several Christ-followers have already done just that. They have embraced and welcomed into their homes a child, or often times many children who have faced unspeakable hardships and loss. They are caring for traumatized children, often alongside their biological kids. 

This is hard and holy work, and we need to find as many ways feasible to support them.

One of the things we have found personally and professionally is the incredible support that one can find when they realize they aren’t walking out an uphill battle alone.

Oftentimes, foster and adoptive parents can feel  isolated from mainstream American families because the obstacles facing them feel way beyond the typical. Foster families are  often up in the middle of the night comforting a traumatized child as their heart and mind attempts to make sense of the things that have happened to them. 

Foster families caring for children of all ages may face the same issues – which aren’t developmental, but are one result of trauma upon a child-sized soul. Some of the issues facing foster and adoptive families face all families, and yet these families on the front lines can and do face much more than most of us can imagine. Some face attachment and trust issues with children that they have long-awaited and long prayed for. Some face surprising special needs diagnosis and the realization that early intervention was not an option for the child they love. Some families, instead of being embraced by their church, school, or neighborhood community, feel alienated by the very ones who should hold their arms up.

As you position yourself to intercede for foster families, consider asking God how you specifically can lighten the load for one family in your circle of influence who is walking out this journey right now. And if you do not know any foster families, ask the Lord to connect you with one so that you can support them. You are being called to play a part in God’s redemption plan for these kids, and that is really exciting!

Dear Heavenly Father - You designed children for families and families for children. Although sin and pain are a reality in this world, as are the effects of these truths - we claim healing and hope, restoration and redemption over each child in care and over every family who is caring for these kids, Your kids, right now. We pray restful sleep for all - children and caregivers. We pray for a guarding of hearts and a resiliency for every child in these homes – bio, adopted, step or foster, no matter how You brought these children together for a season or for forever. We ask that they grow and learn what it is to love deeply, to pray specifically and to trust You even when they do not understand, or perhaps  when life just doesn’t make sense. We pray that You will raise up support systems around each family who is caring for Your kids so that the lie of the enemy that they are alone, does not take root. Uplift them today in this calling and in this space. Amen.