Praying for others

Prayer for teenagers: what to ask God for, and prayers for anxiety

October 21, 2026 · 4 min read

How to pray for teenagers, what to ask God for, prayers for a teen with anxiety, Scripture to pray over them, and how parents and youth leaders can pray.

Prayer for teenagers brings their real pressures to God: faith, friends, phones, school, the future, and the anxiety many of them carry. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or youth leader, you can pray for the teens in your life by name, with Scripture, and keep praying through every season.

How do you pray for a teenager?

Praying for a teenager means bringing them to God by name and asking for what they’re facing right now. Pray most of all for a faith of their own, then for good friends, wisdom with their phone and time, purity, school, decisions about the future, and protection. Ask them what to pray for when you can, pray Scripture over them, and keep praying when they pull away.

What should you pray for a teenager?

What you pray for a teenager can follow the parts of their life:

• A faith of their own. That Jesus would be real to them, not just their parents’ God (Ephesians 1:17-18).
• Identity. That they would know they are loved by God and made in His image (Genesis 1:27).
• Friends. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20, ESV).
• Their phone and time. That their minds would dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable” (Philippians 4:8, ESV).
• School and teachers. Focus, good work, and people who encourage them.
• Decisions. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, ESV).
• Protection. “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in” (Psalm 121:8, ESV).
• Example. “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV).

How do you pray for a teenager with anxiety?

Praying for a teenager with anxiety means bringing their fears to God and also getting them help. Pray Scripture over them:

• “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV).
• “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV).
• “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV).

For prayers to pray with them, see these prayers for anxiety.

Prayer and help go together. Listen without rushing to fix, and help them talk to a doctor, counselor, or pastor. If a teen talks about hurting themselves or ending their life, get help right away. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.

What prayers can you pray for a teenager?

A few short prayers to adapt with a teen’s name:

• For faith: “Jesus, make Yourself real to Ben. Give him a faith that is his own.”
• For friends: “Lord, bring Grace one good friend who loves You, and protect her from friendships that pull her away.”
• For school: “Give Ben focus this week and help him do his best on his exams.”
• For the future: “Guide Grace as she thinks about what’s next. Help her trust You with it.”

How can parents and youth leaders keep praying for teens?

Keeping up prayer for teenagers is easier with a simple rhythm. Parents can pray for each teen daily. Youth leaders can pray for a few students each day, so every student comes up each week. Text a student to say you prayed for them, and ask how you can pray. Teens notice when an adult keeps praying for them.

How can The Pray App help you pray for teenagers?

The Pray App keeps a prayer card for each teen you pray for. On Home, tap New prayer card, write your prayer, add them under Praying for, and set Repeat to Daily for your own kids or Weekly for students in a youth group. Add a Bible verse to pray with it.

After you pray, the summary lists the people you prayed for. Tap the message button next to a name, and Messages opens with “Hi Ben, I prayed for you today.” ready to send.

Let a teen know you prayed for them today.

Scripture also speaks directly to the young: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (Psalm 119:9, ESV). For teens who want to pray on their own, see prayer app for teens. For younger kids, see how to pray for your children, and for their teachers, see prayers for teachers.

The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads. See how to tag people and text them.