6 Anxiety-Reducing Prayers for New Drivers

Searching for prayers for your new driver?  Have a newly licensed teen driver and experiencing some anxiety or worry?

You’ve arrived at a good place to unburden yourself in prayer.  The prayers below are to help you get started in communicating with God.  You may find that as you pray these prayers for a new driver, your own words begin to spill out–keep praying!

You are naturally worried for your newly minted teenage driver.  Will they remember all the instruction you gave them as they learned to drive?  You’re highly focused on them being safe and not getting into a wreck, so claim this promise from scripture, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91.11 NIV).

Will your teenager make good decisions on the road?  It’s hard to predict so you have to trust in God’s guidance for them, “I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4.11 NIV).

Having taught two of my children to drive, I’ve experienced similar emotions and feelings as you are having right now.  As they grow, we, the parents, have to let go gradually so they can grow into responsibility. Still, it feels like preschool graduation was just yesterday and now you’re teaching them to drive! Soon enough it will be college orientation and adulthood!

But don’t get too ahead of yourself. Rest in the security of God’s hand upon them I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49.16 NIV).

These six prayers are for you.  Pray them as you need to, as often as you need.  I hope they will lessen your anxiety, calm your fears, and eliminate the worry you have for your new driver.  Please share your own prayer requests down in the comments section.

A Short Prayer for a New Driver

O Lord Jesus, my oldest child just got cleared to drive on his own–he’s a new driver!  I pray you guide him with good sense and judgement and attentiveness as he drives.  He has to make sound decisions as he drives his car–I can’t do it for him.  I lift him to you each day as he leaves the driveway, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Prayer By an Anxious Teenage Driver

God, I’ve wanted to be driving myself for over a year now, and not have to depend on my mom all the time.  I have my driver’s license and I can drive by myself as of today.  I’m supposed to feel excited and I am.

But I also feel some worry–what I’ve waited for for so long is now literally in my hands and I’m terrified!  What if I have a wreck?  My parents will lose it.  Or if I get a ticket?  Then I’ll be grounded for months and months and never get to drive again!  Lord, I need your help!

My dad taught me all I need to know to drive, but being in the driver’s seat without anyone else in the car is kind of intimidating.  There’s no one to correct me or point out other cars to pay attention to as I drive.  I’ve got to do it all!  Please keep me attentive as I drive and focused on where I’m going and what’s happening in traffic around me.

I’m putting up a good show of “I’ve got this,” but I’m praying to you, God, because I don’t think I do have it all together as I drive.  I just want to get to where I’m going safely, Lord.

I’m asking you to make sure I don’t make any bad decisions while in the car today, God.  I ask this all in the name of Jesus, Amen.

An Anxious Parent’s Prayer for Their Teenage Driver

God!  My teenager is driving now on her own, without me in the car and I’m a mess!  I know scripture tells me not to worry, but I’m struggling in that regard at the moment.  I ask for your peace, that is beyond my understanding, to surround me in these moments, Lord.

She seemed okay when she left but I think she’s also nervous but doesn’t want to show it.  I just want her to be safe and confident as she drives.  This is important for her because she wants to get a job and she needs to be able to drive herself back and forth.

I want to trust you fully, God, yet anxious thoughts keep entering my mind.  I pray for you to calm my mind and by your Spirit, help me to focus on all the ways you’ve cared for her and us.  Remind me of how you’ve protected her throughout her life.

I’m praying to you, God, because I don’t know what else to do and I thank you for hearing me and understanding what I’m experiencing.  I’m grateful for your love and so I pray this in the your name O Lord, Amen.

A Quick Prayer for A Driver’s License Test

God in heaven, I’m about to go take my driver’s license test and I really want to pass it on the first attempt.  I’ve studied and been practicing driving and parking with my parents.

I’m praying for me to be focused and listen to the instructor.  When I take the written test, give me clear thinking and good memory.  Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Prayer for a New Driver’s First Long Trip

Father God, my child, now a teenager, is driving on her own.  (Name) is about to take her first long trip all by herself and I’m a little worried.

She’s been driving with a full license for 7 months now, but this the first time she’ll have to drive on multiple interstates and go through the major metro area.  We won’t be in the car to give directions or watch for errant vehicles.

She’s on her own for this one, God.  It’s a three-hour drive so I ask you keep her alert and watchful.  I pray against any wayward cars crossing her path.  I ask for her safe arrival tonight and return home tomorrow.

I know this is the first of many trips like this for her so let this one be a confidence-builder for her.  And, if I’m being honest with you God, let it be a trust-building trip for me with you.  I ask for these things with trust in the One who sustains us, Lord Jesus, Amen.

A Prayer for a Learner’s Permit Driver

Lord, my little boy is now 15 and is eligible to get a learner’s permit to drive!  Help me be patient as I guide him in his driving without making him more anxious.  He has to drive with me in the car for the next six months and he’s not too pleased about that reality.

I know this is part of him growing up, but I’m not sure I’m ready for this, God.  As soon as he can drive on his own, he won’t need me as much.  Part of me is okay with that because I’ll get more time.  But the other part of me still wants to be his mother that he needs.  Guide me, Lord, into this new reality.

Enable me to be calm as he gets used to steering a one-ton piece of metal and glass on wheels.  If I’m calm, he’ll be calm, so help me!  I want to teach him without him feeling judged for making mistakes, which he’s going to make.

Give me a long view, God, to see that, in the end, this is good and necessary for him and for me.  Thank you our insurance is paid up and the car works properly.  I give you praise for your provision Lord.  We’re about to start our first trip, so I ask all of this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

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Concluding Thoughts

Our children are ours–once a parent, always a parent.  As they step (or drive) into this next stage of life (a licensed driver!), we can learn to loosen the hold we have on them.  We can set them free to learn, even from their mistakes while driving.

It’s helpful to know that when we pray for our new drivers, God hears our prayers, so “let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4.16 NIV).

Every time they exit the driveway is our time of need!  It can be a challenge to want to protect our teenage drivers but also realizing this stage of life is necessary for them to become functioning adults.

For our youthful car drivers, they will learn responsibility and good decision-making skill, by having the responsibility of driving on their own.  We’ve done our part to teach them and are supportive of them.  So now, we can pray and live in the reality of scripture, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust” (Psalm 25.1 NIV).

I hope these prayers, whether it was one of them or all of them, are fruitful for you, and for your new driver!  Know that God hears you when you pray, so share your own prayer needs down in the comments section.