Dads
Dad's Prayer for August 18th
A short, Scripture-shaped dads prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, the Bible does not pretend grief is rare. It records loss without hiding it. That gives me permission to do the same.
This summer has carried real loss for people I love. A job gone. A parent getting weaker. A friendship that did not make it. I tend to be the steady one who handles things by managing. Make me the steady one who can mourn first, then act.
Help me be honest with You and with my wife about the weight I am carrying. Let the kids see their dad face sad things without falling apart. Faking calm all the time is not strength.
Lord Jesus, You wept at Lazarus's tomb even though You knew what would happen next. Teach me that order. Feel it. Name it. Then move. Give me a chance to do that with one piece of grief this week.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
Jesus wept.
John 11:35
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray dad's prayer for august 18th?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in John 11:35. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.