When James was a baby, I searched Scripture for just the right verse to pray over his life.
As I would rock and feed him at 2:00 am, I wanted to whisper a verse that he would remember as he grew. One that would be true of him when he was two, twenty-two, and forty-two. After reading and praying, I finally picked a verse.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. -Luke 2:52
That is exactly what I wanted for him—to grow smarter, stronger, and for God and others to show him favor.
When he was diagnosed with autism at age three, this verse became even more important.
The truth was, he wasn’t growing smarter or stronger. At that point, he was losing communication skills and well below average for weight and height. Others weren’t showing him favor. He was excluded from friends’ birthday parties and kept to himself around peers. And honestly, I wasn’t sure God was showing us favor either. My husband and I were seminary graduates and in ministry. We made sacrifices to follow what we believed God had called us to do. Surely He owed us a typical child? An easy life?
Even as we struggled with our new role as special needs parents, juggled doctors, therapies, and new diets, and learned acronyms like IEP, SPD, and TSS, I continued to pray. “God, I’m begging you—help him to grow smarter and stronger. Show favor on him. Cause others to include him, be patient with him, and love him.” Night after night. Again and again.
Now, I see my prayer being answered. He is learning. He is growing. When we walk down the hall at church, he gives high fives and sometimes even smiles to people who know him, who accept him as he is and love him. And God is showing him favor. Blessing our church’s special needs ministry that started because of James. Bringing people into our lives who are hearing the gospel because of doors James is opening.
So I will continue to pray this verse over James. To ask God for more. To remind myself of what He’s done in our lives. To give Him all honor and glory.
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Thank you for sharing your experiences. By simply reading the things everyone has gone through I can relate. My boy is actually happy and is on therapy on a schedule, but I regret not being with him specially this time of pandemic. He is actually so familiar with the life in the province (rural life) that he is so happy with the relatives there. I regret not being with him because me and my wife need to work in the city, to cater the family’s needs. I feel that my son is happy there so we are hesitant to bring him back with us in the City. He has no playmates and much activity here. We just leave him with a relative of my wife who takes care of him. Unlike, there in the province, where he is right now, he experience the life of a kid, with fresh food, good playmates, the trees, plants, animals and the beach (he enjoys swimming in the beach). My wife and I, thought of moving in the province in the near future with him, to be with our boy. But, in order to do that, we need to transfer to the province with a job, or the employer allowing us to transfer in the province. It is a difficult situation, that calls for hard decision. Its really hard not to see my kid, although when they send picture he is enjoying, I regret not being there as a father to defend, accompany him, play with him and enjoy the long walks with him
I’m sure everything is going to work. He knows you guys love him. And trust me, I definitely understand the sacrifice as I make them daily for my daughter as well. Take care
Bless your heart. You are an amazing dad.
The Lord is with you.
Please pray for my son Langston, He’s an 11 year old boy that suffers from autism, development delayed, and ADHD. He’s non-verbal and has had a lot’s of regression over the years. The older He’s getting the more aigated he has become, because He’s not able to express his needs. It’s been hard on me, I’ve tried every program that’s out there and he couldn’t adjust.
Sherry,
This is Catherine/Key Ministry admin. I’m praying for you and your son. Where do you live? We might be able to connect you to resources you haven’t previously tried. My email is catherine@keyministry.org.
We live in Monroe, Louisiana
Sherry,
Here’s a link to our church locator map. We don’t have a church in our database listed in Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a church near you with special needs ministries (churches add themselves to our database). Often these churches have information about other supports in your area. The closest one I see on the map is in Kinder, LA, or in Longview Texas. It might be worth connecting with either of these churches. Also, may I suggest https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource-guide?state%5B251%5D=251 (link to Louisiana resources for autism) or https://www.soarspecialneeds.org/ as a source of special needs resources in your area. Please reach back out to us if we can provide any additional help. Catherine Boyle
I don’t see the link to churches with special needs ministries. Could you repost? I would love to find a place for my family to attend. I’m in Tennessee near Nashville.
Sandi
Hi Sandy,
Here’s the link to our church locator page. https://www.keyministry.org/find-a-church You can enter your zip code to find churches near you. A couple of caveats: churches are able to add themselves to this locator map; we do not do any screening or vetting. Also, we will likely be linking to the church locator map provided by Shine On/Tim Tebow Foundation in the near future. We are one of the Shine On Contributors, and their list of churches is more comprehensive and current. Here’s a link to their Night to Shine churches and locations: https://www.timtebowfoundation.org/ministries/night-to-shine#extra
Hello, I just read your comment and couldn’t help but ask if you have heard of PODD books? PODD stands for Pragmatic Organization
Dynamic Display. Here is a link to a video introducing PODD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p5eH1u1j40
I have a 24 year old son with severe and profound issues and he received a PODD book 2 years ago from a Christian school in Chicago (we live in Seattle). He has begun to use his book and we are impressed by his ability to understand and learn it. I hope this helps you!
I know this is an email from awhile ago. But I am praying for you son as well. My daughter is dealing with autism, speech delay, developmental delay and adhd. So I know that struggle. I am standing in the gap with you and praying for your son as well.
Thank you for the encouragement
Pray for my son aiden,he is3yrs old,diagnosed as autistic kid,he doesn’t know to ask anything,not feeding properly,speech has delayed.please pray for him ..I’m a helpless women for 2kids
Hi Anitha
I’m praying for Aiden and trusting God for His healing. The Lord is our healer, He sent His word to heal all our disease.
Nice to have discovered this blog.
I am encouraged by the words and scriptures.
My daughter is 3 years 5 months. She mumbles few words, may be less 10 words, sometimes follows instructions.
I have not done a proper assessment but I think she maybe autistic.
I am a mom of 2 boys with autism and a daughter who is 16 months who I feel has autism as well….without my faith I would be so lost. I continue to struggle on how to bring god into their life so that they understand. My prayers for your beautiful daughter
Hi. I came across your blog while searching for help for kids with autism. I have an 8yr old son with autism, I reside in Nigeria to be precise. I would like you to join me in praying for him and also any learning material that can help him learn will be appreciated. Thank you and God bless.
Hi David,
We have added your son and family to our prayer list; our prayer team meets weekly to pray over needs like yours. We do not create educational materials for individuals with autism, but if you search online for educational resources for autism, or visit the websites of organizations like Autism Speaks or Autism Society of America, you will find many free resources to support your son.
You have no idea how encouraging this is to me. And thank you all for the comments and scriptures shared. I was at one of my lows but this encouraged me. My girl Malaika is 8 and was diagnosed with autism. But she is improving daily. I pray for her everyday. From the lips of babes he has perfected praise. Psalms 8.
Is there a book on salvation or a bible you can recommend for autistic children?
Hi Kate! I don’t know of any that are specific to kids with autism. I just use what’s age appropriate. James loves The Jesus Storybook Bible and What’s in the Bible DVDS.
I Have a son who is autistic, I and my husband we are ministers leaving in Africa, Nigeria
The scripture I pray for my sons mostly is Isaiah 8:18
Behold I and d children the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders
I just know that God will heal my sons miraculously and d world will see his wonders
Hi! I did not know about this site 3 years ago. i didn’t know that I would need to. My son is 4 and nonverbal. I like this scripture. Exodus 4:11-12 “The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
This was what I needed today! Thank you so much for your words!
Wow. Great scripture. Love the word of God especially in my low moments. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Sandra. It has been a rough year so far and I have pulled away from my faith being extremely angry at God. Your story has touched me in a way that made me stop crying tonight and not feel so very alone.
I pray Psalm 139 over her every night telling her she is fearfully and wonderfully made and how Jesus loves her.
I am encouraged by this post to pray a lot more over her and also even my typical developing son.
I am a fifty eight year old grand Mother of nine, and God has blessed my husband and i to take my eleven year old grand son into our home he was diagnosed with asperger a form of autism and i read scriptures to him every night before goes to sleep his favorite scripture is John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God, and the word was God. All things were made through Him, and with out him nothing was made that was made. We are learning more about God just from caring for our grandson My husband is a minister and so am I, and I found that the specials needs ministry is one to help help the believer to refocus on our true purpose and call. I thank God for trusting me.
Beautifully written. As a mother of a child with exceptional needs, we sometimes need words/prayers like these, to keep us going.
Thank you!
I pray that the Lord will cause his face to shine upon my daughter and to give her peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that will only come from her trusting Jesus for her salvation.
Awesome word.
God gave me Proverbs 31: 8-9 for my son weeks before he was labeled with a speech delay (turned out he was a non-verbal autistic for about a year before treatments started taking effect on him).
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Having God give me that as the word for my son’s life, I knew that God had great plans for him despite the fact that we started down a lifelong journey of spectrum disabilities.
Wonderful verse. I have saved it to pray for my two sons that diagnose Autism. Thank you so much
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
This has been my prayer for all four of my children, reminding me (when I so needed to be reminded) that they are good works of God.
Thank you for your ministry, Sandra!
We are also in ministry. Our son was really the one who brought our church into special needs ministry. These are two of the things in the article I could relate to very personally. There were several other things also. Thank you for sharing about your journey.
I am a divorced mom and my daughter Alyssa who is sixteen and autistic , had taken her to a treatment center in december and they gave her the invega shot . She went from a functional autistic to a non functional on the shot . She has been hospitalized three times and tonugue and body locked up each time . Went back finally to school last week but its still one day at time not knowing long term affects of this shot , feeling scared and alone , need help encouragement and verses to help this long road to recovery.margaret and alyssa morales.
After struggling for years with my son’s behavior, I found out two days ago that he has low IQ. I pray scripture for my boys from the MOB Society and sometimes it’s a struggle. I have to remember that God loves my children even more than I do, He knows them and their future, and He can work miracles! This article is very timely for me.
When our special son was born, I claimed a scripture for our whole family, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Step by step on that unfamiliar road, He proved the truth of that verse.
Our son is now in his forties and God has graciously provided opportunities for him to enjoy the richest life possible.
Thanks Sandra … You have encouraged me…. My wife & I are Pastors here in Kenya – Africa and we have a 7 year old son – Eliakim -on the spectrum. Its very tough for autistic children in many of our African countries because there are no programs or facilities offered by our governments for the same. We began praying for our boy when he was about 1 year old after being diagnosed and we have seen God bring amazing developments in Kim. He has developed language, is more calmer and yesterday we read two Dr Seuss books with him which he enjoyed immensely. Glory to God
Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, good and not evil, to give you a future and hope.
I, too, pray Psalm 139:14 over our 4th little boy! We chose this verse and put it on our birth announcements!
Psalm 139:13-16 is my favorite passage for my son, Joel:
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 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.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
God’s word does not go out void! Praise the Lord!
What a wonderful thing to do! Now I’m off to research one for my boys. Thank you!
Sandra, that’s been a part of our nightly blessing for our girls their whole lives, too! Such an important prayer for them, and such a reminder that they CAN grow in all those ways… that it’s God’s heart for them.
my grandson is autistic also and we also foun out when he was three, I alway divide our life in that time. before we knew and after we knew.
Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. “.
Heidi, This is the verse I pray for our son. His anxiety is often parazlying and, now that he is older, we recite it together.
As we travel this life, with many special needs friends, and special needs in my own home, I do find myself praying over my children and my friends children. I don’t have a particular scripture but one that I pray often is Psalm 23:6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Also, in my home, I constantly pray love over them through 1 Corinthians 13.
Beautiful, Heather! Thanks for sharing.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Wonderful promise!
This is a really good one to speak over your child.
Wow, no mothers replied, sad.
Do you have a verse you pray, Joy? Others have shared their favorites here and on Facebook.
I have two children with special needs age four and five. I pray over them every night. They are both starting to blossom and come out of their shell. I can’t have a conversation with me son who is five, but he will repeat every word I say if I ask. When I pray with him I usually ask him to say “Thank you father for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus for healing me. In Jesus name amen!” Sometimes we will add a couple other things in there depending on the day. I have to keep it short, or he becomes bored. One morning my eldest daughter was woke up by him at 6:00 a.m. with his hands raised up in the air saying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Over and over again, I cried. I never thought about having a favorite verse to speak over them. Thank you for the idea!
They both have Autism to be exact.
My name is Edyth Ehimare brave I live in Ireland my daughter Golden has special need autistic I just saw this page when I was looking for prayers for her .she is 12 today ,27-06-04 thanks for all your encouragement may Almighty God answer all are prayers.
This post meant so much to me today. Thank you very much for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Kelly!