A Prayer for Graduates of All Ages
By Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12 NIV
Listen or Read Below:
Sitting at my nephew’s high school graduation party, talking with friends and family, I was repeatedly asked, “ Are you going to be ready for this when it’s your girls’ turn?” Such a loaded question.
I smiled and jokingly responded, “Of course! One less mouth to feed, maybe my husband and I can finally take that trip we started planning 20 years ago!” My mother-in-law playfully interjected, “We will see how dry her eyes are next Friday when her oldest graduates from elementary school.” I will undoubtedly shed some tears as my eldest daughter waves goodbye to one season of life, but perhaps not for the reason most expect.
Speaking with parents of graduates of all ages, launching your child into the world, off to college, or a new school brings mixed emotions. And I am right there with them. While parents wrestle with various feelings over seeing their babies grow up, the uncertainty of the next stage of life tends to invite the most worry.
For some change in any form, a new job, a different process, or an alternate route evokes anxiety and fear. But I find excitement in the unknown. The same has been true for the changing seasons in my children's lives. I love rocking my babies, but I also enjoyed watching them embrace independence as they took their first steps. Getting a big, sloppy kiss on their first day of kindergarten warmed my soul, but I was okay with a quick hug in the car as they walked in with their friends, ready to take on 5th grade.
I can embrace the uncertainty of life because I cling to what I know to be certain: God is good and He can be trusted, especially with my children. I am simply a steward of my daughters; they don’t belong to me, but to the Lord. And so, the tears that prick the corners of my eyes stem from regret as I think about all the squandered opportunities of my youth. I neither feared the Lord nor kept his commandments. As I think about my girls’ next stages, I pray that they will not be distracted by what this world has to offer but instead, listen to the still, often quiet ways that the Lord speaks to His children. And not only hear His voice but trust and obey.
I love these verses from 1 Kings about God’s interaction with the prophet Elijah. Elijah flees for his life and ends up in a cave, where an angel tells him to get something to eat and take a nap ( 1 Kings 19:1-7). Once Elijah has regained his strength and had a rest, the Lord appears to him, and tells him to stand on a mountain because the presence of the Lord was about to pass by. 1 Kings 19:11-13 tells us that a powerful wind came, but God wasn’t in the wind. Then an earthquake came, but God wasn’t in the earthquake. After that, fire came, but God wasn’t in the fire. Lastly, “after the fire came a gentle whisper,” and when Elijah heard this, he pulled his cloak over his face in reverence ( 1 Kings 19:11-13).
As parents, we are tempted to pray, crying out to God to show himself to our children in grand gestures, major moments, or seemingly significant ways to get their attention. Still, more often than not, God is speaking to His children ( of all ages) in a gentle whisper—one that, if we aren’t paying attention, could be easily missed.
As I think about my daughters’ growing up and graduating from one stage of life to the next, I pray that they will always be so in tune with the Holy Spirit that they will hear His whisper and follow His leading in their lives. I may not be ready for them to move on to the next milestone, but I know God has them in His care; they simply need to listen for His voice.
Let’s Pray:
Most gracious, precious, loving Father, please open our hearts and minds to hearing your voice. Numerous distractions and voices compete for your attention. May you silence the noise so that we can listen to you. Lord, we lift up our sons and daughters to you. Guide us as parents to live with “open hands,” as we parent as stewards, not owners, of our children. We can rest in the blessed assurance that you love them more than we do, because you alone are their Creator, Savior, and Sustainer. May we encourage our children to abide in you, not only hearing Your voice speak to their hearts, but listening and obeying Your commands. And help us, as parents, do the same, in our own lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead as we joyfully submit. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Conner Ching
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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Originally published Saturday, 31 May 2025.
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