35 Encouraging Bible Verses for New Parents
Becoming a parent is physically, emotionally, and spiritually overwhelming. New moms may start to feel discouraged and new dads may feel unsure of how to help. A new life is certainly a cause for celebration, but for most people becoming a new parent isn’t easy.
As Christian parents you can expect to encounter spiritual battles as you navigate sleepless nights, confusion, and exhaustion with your newborn baby. This can also be an incredibly sweet time as you understand the love of God in new ways as a you yourself are a parent and are sustained by the Holy Spirit’s strength and encouragement.
Save these Bible verses to read over yourself late nights while feeding your baby. Use these powerful Bible verses to pray over your sweet new baby and for your little family as well.
These verses are also appropriate to share at baby showers, in cards, and gifts for new parents. Remember one of the best gifts you can give a new mom is to commit to praying Scripture for her, her baby and her partner.
35 Encouraging Bible Verses for New Parents
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” -Luke 18:15-17
God’s kingdom is a kingdom that welcomes and celebrates children–never sees them as an inconvenience or a burden.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139:13-16
From before your child is born God has beautifully created and perfectly planned your baby’s future.
He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. -Deuteronomy 7:13
Children can be one of many ways God blesses our lives.
Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. -Psalm 8:2
Prase of children is spiritually powerful, showing again how important children are in God’s kingdom.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. -Psalm 127:4-5
Raising our children to love God and love others is a powerful act of defiance against the powers of darkness.
The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. -Proverbs 23:24
Children are a joy! Yes, having children is hard and it is work, but it is also an incredibly fun and joyful experience!
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. -Proverbs 31:28-31
Your kids don’t need a supermom, they need a mom who builds her life around Jesus.
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As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. -Ecclesiastes 11:5
Birth and pregnancy are a beautiful mystery. Be open to the mysterious or new ways God may work in your life in this season.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart. -Jeremiah 1:5
God’s plan for our children begins before they are ever born.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” -Matthew 21:16
God delights to work through things children do and say!
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. -Luke 2:40
Although this verse is written about Jesus this is a great verse to pray and speak over your children.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. -Luke 10:21
God’s kingdom way of living is accessible for children and those with child-like faith. Be prepared for your little one to ask questions and open up new areas of understanding in your faith walk.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10
God’s plan for your child’s life begins now. He has good for them to do on the earth from the moment they are born.
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. -1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
Parenting is a journey of self-sacrifice as this verse uses the illustration of a mother sacrificing physically to care for her children to show how Paul felt spiritually about the church in Thessalonica.
Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17
Your child is a gift from God! Some days when they’re toddlers and have pooped all over their room or teenagers who question your every decision it may not always feel like it. But even on the hard days, the long days, the mind-numbing days, the sick days, the full-to-the-brim days or running around your child is a gift entrusted to you by God.
This verse was especially close to me when we were surprised with our third baby (in 3.5 years!).
Bible Verses to Pray for Your Child
The power of praying God’s promises over your children’s lives is unparalleled. As a parent I consider it my joy and my job to be a prayer warrior for my children.
I don’t want to pray for only physical needs like safety, growth, and health, but for their spiritual needs–that they would know how deeply God loves them and they would follow Him all the days of their lives.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. -Numbers 6:24-26
Pray for the Lord’s blessing and care for your child’s life. Pray that God would fill them with peace through His presence.
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. -1 Samuel 1:27-28
Pray this prayer as a prayer of surrender of your child to God and His purpose for their life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. -John 3:16
Pray for your child to come to know Christ Jesus as their Savior.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. -Galatians 5:22-23
Pray that your child would be filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:17-19
Pray your child will come to know–fully and deeply–the love of Jesus.
Commands for New Parents
Your children are given to you as a trust–they are children of God on loan to you to love and disciple with the love of God. Teaching them to love God and love others is the calling of your lifetime.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. -Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Make your faith part of your everyday life. Don’t wait till your child is “old enough to understand”. Talk about Jesus during tummy time, read them Scripture, dance to worship music–saturate your family life with Jesus!
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. -Proverbs 22:6
This verse is a proverb, something generally true, not a lock-solid promise that if you raise your child in a Christian home they will gladly accept and never question your faith. We know that sadly that isn’t always the case (think of David’s sons or even Adam and Eve’s) The choice to follow Jesus is always up to your child, but the spiritual tone, atmosphere, and emphasis of your home can deeply impact whether or not your child chooses to follow God. Lead by example.
Fathers (Parents), don’t exasperate your children but bring them up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord. -Ephesians 6:4
Don’t frustrate your children with inconsistency or unkindness. Point them to God over rules and make sure they know how much you love them.
Encouragement for New Moms
The Word of God is a tremendous encouragement in the early days of having a baby. May these verses bring you fresh hope and peace during this season.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. -2 Corinthians 12:9
You aren’t strong enough for the newborn stage when you’re up all night, exhausted, leaking milk, and just trying to get through. You’re not strong enough for potty-training, the first day of Kindergarten or the first day of college either. God’s GRACE is what will see you through now and always.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7
There is a lot to be anxious about as a mom, but you can surrender your worries to God. You can’t control everything, but you can trust the One who is.
*Please remember that Postpartum Depression/Anxiety or generalized Anxiety or Depression are serious medical conditions with spiritual and emotional implications. Please see your health provider if you have concerns.*
-This article also includes my process of surrendering worries to God through journaling.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13
Ask God to fill your days as a new parent with joy, hope, and peace. This is a prayer God will delight in answering for you!
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1
God is near to you in the early days with your little one–ever present to help you however you need it. Ask Him for a friend. Ask Him for strength. Ask Him for spiritual nourishment when you don’t have time to open up your Bible.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. -2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God is compassionate and comforting you during this season. What you learn and experience now you will be able to pass on as wisdom to others when they’re struggling in this season.
So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10
God promises to strengthen, help, and uphold you as a parent. What a beautiful promise!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6
You may think you know how you want to parent your child, but you will probably change your mind. Don’t lean on your own knowledge or even expert advice– but PRAY about your parenting asking God to give you wisdom and grace as you love on and disciple your child.
Gifts to Bless Christian Parents at the Birth of a New Baby
This section contains affiliate links.
Jesus Storybook Bible — I read this aloud to my daughter when she was still in my belly in my last trimester. It’s never too early to speak God’s Word over your child!
Baby Ink Hand and Footprint Frame — A beautiful keepsake.
Oh Baby! Devotions for New Parents — Draw close to Jesus through these simple devotionals written to parents in the trenches with newborn babies.
Blessed Photo Frame — This beautiful photo frame is unique and will go with almost any nursery decor!
The Wonderful Things You Will Be — Cue the waterworks! This book is so sweet!
Bless You Baby Blanket — A practical and spiritual reminder to keep your little one warm!
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