Some women have lost a father’s physical presence. For others, although their father is still alive, there is strain due to emotional absence within the relationship. Yet, for other women, it marks the reality that they are estranged from their father—maybe for years or even a lifetime.
If you find yourself processing the absence of your father in any of those three ways, then it is my desire you find the prayers offered as a guide to help navigate your own conversation with God about this father-daughter relationship topic. May they offer you the encouragement you need at this time, and the confirmation of knowing God is indeed your Heavenly Father who comforts you through every moment of your life.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Maria Korneeva
1. A Prayer for the Grieving Daughter
1. A Prayer for the Grieving Daughter
Father God, thank you for the joy of knowing you and embracing you as my Heavenly Father. In the absence of my earthly father, I take great comfort in your never-ending, never-failing love for me. Thank you for the assurance that you are always with me, even amid my grief. I cling to your promise in Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) that promises me: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
There are days I especially need to be held by your grace. The sadness and sorrow I feel can seem so overwhelming. Lord, you know how much I love my dad and miss his presence here with me. In the moments where my grief is heaviest, please help me turn to you for strength and rest.
When my thoughts become bombarded with despair, release peace over my mind. When I am despondent, and my emotions are going haywire, reassure me by the power of the Holy Spirit that your presence is more than enough to sustain me. Give me the ability to experience your joy in my sorrow.
Thank you for the precious memories I will forever treasure in my heart. Thank you for the legacy of my father’s life. Thank you for the love I was blessed to receive from him. On special occasions or even on an ordinary day when I am reminded of my dad, I give you praise, Heavenly Father, for his life. I am grateful for the privilege to always celebrate his impact upon my life and honor his memory. Thank you for receiving this prayer I offer in Jesus’ name, amen.
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2. A Prayer for the Daughter on a Journey of Healing
2. A Prayer for the Daughter on a Journey of Healing
God, I praise you for being my faithful Heavenly Father. As I navigate my journey of healing because of hurts from my relationship with my father, I acknowledge my dependency upon you through this process. I confess that there are aspects of my relationship with my father that have been hard and difficult.
I do not understand all of the dynamics, but I choose to surrender my disappointments to you. I even surrender my need to understand why it had to be this way. I willingly relinquish the need to try to rationalize within myself all that has occurred. Lord, it is too much for me to bear, so I give you all my pain. In 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), you tell me to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
I lift up my relationship with my dad to you, Lord, and I pray you will bring healing to both of us. Help me to forgive my father where forgiveness is needed. Take away any place of bitterness and resentment toward him. Thank you for the awareness that I do not have to suppress or deny the past in order to offer forgiveness and live free from offense in the present.
May healing and wholeness flow to every part of us—spirit, soul, and body. Lord, please lead us to the resources and tools that would help us build a healthy relationship by the grace of God. Keep us anchored in your love for us. Heavenly Father, give us a commitment to honor you as we do the work of repair, recovery, and renewal to have the kind of father-daughter relationship you desire. Let hope and patience abide as we continue to heal emotionally. May our relationship grow and develop over time into a relationship that allows us to enjoy each other and bring your kingdom glory. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.
3. A Prayer for the Daughter Estranged from Her Father
3. A Prayer for the Daughter Estranged from Her Father
Heavenly Father, I call upon you as my father in the absence of my earthly father. Thank you for the assurance and confidence I have because of your love for me and your faithfulness to me. I acknowledge you are always present in my life. I am your daughter, and because of this truth, I am never fatherless (see Psalm 68:5).
I admit I am hurt by the estrangement of my earthly father. Like all women, I would love to know what it feels like to have a thriving relationship with my own biological father. Nevertheless, I choose to place my hopes and expectations in you. Ultimately, you know what is best for me. You see the end at the beginning and always look out for my best interest. Thank you, Lord, for protecting my heart.
In your sovereignty, I resolve to place my trust in you. According to your perfect timing and will, I know you will reveal your purpose for allowing my father to be absent from my life. You will establish a relationship between us if it is in your divine plan. Thank you for Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
God, I surrender all of my pain and disappointment over my relationship with my dad to you. Help me recognize what is my part to do and accept that I can never impose my will upon another. Give me peace that is never contingent upon the decisions of others, but true peace that comes from knowing you and being in right-relationship with you. May I always have the courage to obey your Word.
When you send other godly men into my life as father-figures, help me to recognize them as gifts from you. I do not have to covet another woman’s relationship with her father. Neither do I have to be resentful, bitter, or angry over the absence of my own father. Help me, Lord, to walk in forgiveness beyond my human ability but rather by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As a believer, I know that I am victorious because of the finished work of Jesus at Calvary. Not even my dad’s absence in my life can make me live beneath the abundant life I have through Christ Jesus. I refuse to be a victim to my circumstances. I am always a triumphant victor. May I walk in freedom because of my relationship with you as a beloved daughter. Thank you, God, my Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, amen.
Originally published June 24, 2025.
