Children’s Prayers
A child’s world creates thoughts and wishes expressing beliefs, desires, questions and doubts. Wise, naïve, reverent or not, they are addressed to God with hope and trust:
Dear God,
- I would like all the bad things to stop
- Are you real? Some people don’t believe it. If you are, you better do something quick
- Do you always get the right souls in the right people? You could make a mistake
- I know you are supposed to love thy neighbour but if Mark keeps taking my other skate, he’s going to get it
- I am doing the best I can!
- We got a lot of religion in our house. So don’t worry about us
- Are boys better than girls? I know you are one but try to be fair
- How did you know you were God?
- If it is in the Bible, is it true?
- I know it says turn the other cheek but what if your sister hits you on the eye?
- If we live after we die, why do we have to die then?
- Why do I have to pray when you know what I want? But I’ll do it if it makes you feel better
- If I was God, I wouldn’t be as good at it. Keep it up!
These touching extracts raise serious questions for adults in developing a mature faith.
Do we still hold on to child-like beliefs?
Have our personal Christian beliefs and practices developed with experience and time? Why is it helpful to reappraise our personal faith regularly? How might we do this?
Compiled by Heather Savinin from ‘Children’s Letters to God’ by E. Marshall & S. Hamble
26 July 2026
