A Prayer for My Son With Addiction
A prayer for your son with addiction hands your child to God, the one person who can reach him when you can’t. It won’t make you the one who fixes it, and it doesn’t come with a promise of when he’ll get better. Pray this: “Lord, my son is in trouble and I can’t save him. You can. Keep him alive. Bring him to his senses, and bring him home. Give me strength to love him without enabling him. Amen.”
If his life is in danger: if he may have overdosed, isn’t breathing well or won’t wake up, call 911 right away. If he talks about suicide, call or text 988. If he’s violent or threatening, call 911. If there are younger children in the home, keep them safe first.
A prayer for my son
“Father, You gave me this son. I remember holding him, and I can’t believe where we are now. You love him even more than I do.
Protect his life tonight. Keep him from the overdose, the car crash, the fight, the arrest that goes too far. Let the consequences he meets wake him up and not destroy him. Put people in his way who’ve been where he is and found a way out. Break the hold this has on him. Give him a hunger for You and for a different life.
When he’s ready to come home to sobriety, help me be ready too. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
A prayer for me as his parent
“Lord, I’m exhausted. I lie awake waiting for the phone to ring. I go back and forth between rescuing him and being furious with him. Show me the difference between love and enabling. Give me the courage to say no when no is love. Heal the guilt I carry. Keep my marriage and my other children from being swallowed by this. Help me trust You with him. Amen.”
Scripture for parents who wait
Jesus told the story of a father who never stopped watching the road.
“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
That father didn’t chase his son into the far country. He waited, and he ran the moment his son turned toward home. That’s a picture of God’s heart, and maybe of yours.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Love without enabling
- Don’t fund it. Pay for needs directly, if at all.
- Don’t lie for him. To his boss, his teachers or the rest of the family.
- Say the true thing. “I love you. I’m not going to help you keep using. I’ll help you get help any time.”
- Get help for yourself. Parent support groups, a pastor, a counselor. Other parents who’ve been there are often the most help.
If your son wants to stop drinking or using, he should see a doctor first. Some substances are dangerous to stop suddenly.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
For a Catholic prayer that calls on St. Monica, who prayed for her son Augustine for years, see the Catholic prayer for alcoholics. For what the Bible says about addiction, read What does the Bible say about addiction?
Something to do today
Pray both prayers above. Then write down one thing you’ve been doing that makes it easier for him to keep using, and decide whether you’ll stop. Tell one trusted person how you’re really doing.
Common questions
Is my son's addiction my fault?
No. Parents make mistakes, but no parent can make a child addicted, and no parent can make a child sober. Bring your regrets to God, and let go of the blame that keeps you stuck.
Will God answer my prayers for my son?
God hears every one of them. He doesn't promise the answer will come in the way or the time you want. Many parents have prayed for years, and some saw change and some are still waiting. Keep praying, and keep living.
Should I give my son money?
Be careful. Money given to someone in active addiction often feeds the addiction. Many parents choose to pay for specific needs directly, like groceries or a doctor's visit, instead of handing over cash. A counselor or support group can help you decide.
What if my son is an adult?
You can't force an adult into help. You can love him, tell him the truth, refuse to fund the addiction, and keep the door open for the day he wants help.
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