There have been so many people and situations that have crossed my mind and been laid on my heart since we’ve entered this unprecedented global pandemic.

As I write this, I’m thinking about the class of 2020. Here in Birmingham, and I’m sure in other places across the country, many of these students were supposed to be graduating this week or at some point this month. A handful of high schools have made the controversial decision to move forward with those plans in various forms like limiting the number of people graduates can invite to in-person ceremonies or drive-in ceremonies. Some parents have even taken matters into their own hands by having parades for their graduates or even personal driveway celebrations.

Still, I can’t help but think about all these students have lost. Many of them didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to friends before moving on to the next phase of life. Some didn’t get to attend their proms or final awards ceremonies or countless other things. As adults, we know in the grand scheme of life, these things might not be that big of a deal, but for our kids, they are, and many of them are struggling.

Today, join me in praying for the class of 2020.

Lord, we come before you thanking for this day. We thank you for your many blessings. We thank you for the opportunity to come before you to pray for the class of 2020. We know Matthew 18:20 tells us where two or more are gathered in your name, You are in the midst, so we thank you for your presence today. Today, we come before you asking a blessing upon the class of 2020.

Whether students are graduating from pre-K, kindergarten, middle school, high school or college or graduate school, we ask that you be with them right now during this unprecedented time in our world. The class of 2020 might be disappointed that their plans and activities were postponed or canceled. They might be confused about what their next steps should be as a result of the pandemic and even outright scared about what the future holds as decisions are being made about whether schools will start in the fall and jobs may not be offering positions as expected. Bless these students with your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Help them to know that in spite of all that is going on, you haven’t forgotten about them. Help them to know it’s okay to be upset that the activities surrounding what was supposed to be an exciting time in their lives didn’t happen. Help me to be sensitive to whatever they may be feeling and to be support to them right now.

Lord, despite what is going on in our country right now, we know you have great plans for the class of 2020, plans to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them a future and a hope. Help this experience to make them stronger. Bless them with all the resources they need and to open doors for them no man can open.

Master, we thank you for the class of 2020. We thank you that in spite of this situation that they will go on to do great things for you and for our world. It’s in Jesus’s name that we pray. Amen.