How to Pray Through Your Child’s Tantrum
- Caleigh Weichbrodt
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Because prayer is often the calmest voice in the room.
Tantrums Happen. Prayer Changes Them.
Every mom knows the scene: the screaming, the flailing arms, the red face pressed against the carpet. Tantrums can turn a peaceful day upside down in seconds.
In those moments, it’s easy to feel powerless. But as Christian mothers, we are never powerless. We can pray in the middle of the chaos—not as a last resort, but as our first response.
Prayer doesn’t magically erase the meltdown. What it does is invite God’s presence into the moment—steadying your heart, calming your child, and reminding both of you that peace is a Person, not just a circumstance.
Why Pray During a Tantrum?
Prayer grounds you when your own frustration rises.
Prayer shifts the atmosphere from control to connection.
Prayer models dependence—teaching your child that emotions aren’t problems to fix but burdens to bring to God.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” A tantrum is the perfect moment to show your child that truth.
3 Simple Ways to Pray Through a Tantrum
1. Pray Over Yourself
Before you address your child, breathe and whisper a grounding prayer:
“Lord, calm my spirit so I can be calm for them.”“Jesus, let Your gentleness guide my words.”
When you invite God to steady you, you can be the safe place your child needs.
2. Pray Out Loud With Your Child
Kneel low, place a gentle hand on their shoulder (if they’ll accept it), and pray aloud in a soft voice:
“Jesus, [child’s name] is so upset right now. Please help their body feel calm and their heart feel safe.”“Lord, give us both peace. Help us breathe together.”
Even if your child doesn’t understand every word, they’ll feel the shift. God’s Word never returns void.
3. Pray After the Storm
Once calm has returned, close the moment with connection and thanksgiving:
“Thank You, Lord, that You were with us. Thank You for helping us calm down. Teach us gentleness and love.”
This ritual of repair turns tantrums into discipleship moments.
Using Tools Alongside Prayer
Prayer doesn’t replace gentle discipline—it empowers it. Pairing prayer with simple tools helps tantrum moments turn into teachable ones. That’s why I love using the G.R.A.C.E. Reset Script (from the Peaceful Moment Kit):
Get Low
Regulate
Acknowledge
Communicate
Extend Grace
This framework gives you the words, while prayer keeps your heart rooted in Christ.
What Your Child Learns
When you pray through a tantrum, you’re teaching your child:
God is near, even in messy emotions.
Anger and sadness are safe to bring to Him.
Peace is found through relationship, not punishment.
Over time, these little seeds take root. Your child learns not just how to manage emotions—but how to turn to God in the middle of them.
Want Ready to Use Phrases for Your Messiest Motherhood Moments?
To help you begin, I created the Peaceful Phrases Cheat Sheet—simple, Scripture-rooted phrases you can speak in the heat of the moment – steadying your heart and calming your child's storm.
And if tantrums and aggression are a daily struggle, the Peaceful Hands 5-Day Reset includes ready-to-use prayer cards, phrases, and reset steps you can keep right in your Peace Corner.
Because mama, you don’t need to pray perfectly. You just need to invite God into the moment—and He’ll meet you there. 🌿
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