I often pray Scriptures like John 6:44 and 2 Timothy 2:25–26 over my lost children who are far from God. Is there a point in praying to the Lord for them if God chooses who He draws to Himself?

The salvation of our children is near and dear to the heart of every Christian parent. We all hope to see our children, and all our loved ones, knowing Jesus and thriving in the power of the Holy Spirit. We want them to enjoy the assurance of salvation and a relationship with Christ. The deepest cry of a parent’s heart is that the Lord would show our children His salvation.

The Bible does teach that God draws people to Himself in salvation (John 6:37). Scripture also teaches that those who hear the gospel are responsible for their reaction (John 3:18). “In the Bible, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not enemies,” theologian J. I. Packer explains. “They are not uneasy neighbors; they are not in an endless state of cold war with each other. They are friends, and they work together.”

It is a comfort to know that God has invited us to bring all of our concerns to Him (1 Peter 5:7). Praying for the salvation of our children, we ask the God of mercy to draw our unsaved children to Himself. But we must also remember to leave the how and when of their salvation to God alone.