We hear your heart and we are lifting you and your precious son up together before the Lord in this exhausting and difficult season. We know that every day brings its own challenges when caring for a child with Autism, and when anxiety rises, sleep is lost, and meltdowns increase, the burden can feel overwhelming. Please know that God sees you, He sees your son, and He loves you both deeply with an everlasting love.
We are reminded in scripture that children are a heritage from the Lord, Psalm 127:3, and that He has fearfully and wonderfully made each one. Your son is known and loved by his Creator, and God understands his struggles even more intimately than we do. He also sees your weariness as parents and He cares about your exhaustion.
The Word encourages us, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. And also, In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7. When sleep is lacking and everything feels more extreme, God promises to be our strength, Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness, Isaiah 41:10. And when we feel overwhelmed we can pray as the psalmist did, When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I, Psalm 61:2.
We also pray for the gift of rest and sleep, for it is the Lord who gives peace in the night, In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety, Psalm 4:8. His grace is sufficient for each day, and His power is made perfect in our weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
We pray together for you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You together in the name of Jesus Christ and we lift up this family to Your throne of grace. Lord, You know this precious son by name, You formed him and You love him. We ask that You would calm his anxiety, quiet his mind and body, and grant him peaceful, restorative sleep. Ease the meltdowns, Lord, and bring a sense of safety and calm over him. We ask for Your gentle hand of comfort and healing upon him.
We also lift up his parents to You, Father. You see their exhaustion, their love, and their faithful care day after day. We ask that You would strengthen them, renew their strength, and give them supernatural endurance and patience. Grant them moments of rest, help through others around them, and Your peace that surpasses understanding to guard their hearts. Let them feel Your presence very near in the hardest moments, and remind them that they are not alone. Provide wisdom for each decision and each day, and let Your grace sustain them.
We thank You, Jesus, that we can come to You and that You hear our prayers. We trust You to carry this family through this harder period and to bring calmer days ahead. Help them to cast all their worries on You because You care for them, 1 Peter 5:7, and to find their rest in You. We ask all of this in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ, our hope and our help, amen.
We encourage you to continue to lean on the Lord moment by moment, and to allow others in the body of Christ to help bear this burden with you, Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ, Galatians 6:2. If you have trusted family, friends, or a church community, let them come alongside you for practical help and prayer. Even short periods of rest for you can make a great difference, and it is not a failure to need help, it is how God designed us to live in community. Keep bringing every worry to Jesus, day and night, and trust that He is working even in this very hard season to uphold you with His righteous right hand. We are continuing to pray that the Lord will bring more peaceful nights, calmer days, and renewed strength for you all.