When I was newly pregnant and experiencing all the pregnancy symptoms for the first time, exhaustion was common. One afternoon, as I lay in bed scrolling on social media, promising myself I would delete or lessen my use of it during my pregnancy, I came across this prayer titled “Litany for Pregnancy.” I read through it and felt such instant comfort and peace. Before deleting my social media app, I quickly copied the prayer down and hung it next to my bed. Since it was early in my pregnancy, I was very much afraid of having a miscarriage or some other kind of complication, but reading the words of this prayer reminded me of who is in control and how he cares for me and my little one.

I try my best to pray this litany every night (although I will admit that sometimes my head has hit the pillow with this prayer left untouched by my bedside), and it is allowing me to take every fear I’ve had during my pregnancy and lay them at the foot of the Cross. I am learning to walk deeper with the Lord, to trust that every outcome is for the good of my little family and that God has already gone before me on this new journey of motherhood. This prayer covers every fear I could have in pregnancy but then takes those fears and allows me to turn from them and fix my eyes on the one who is holding me in the palm of his hand and knitting my beloved child in my womb. Beginning with the prayer “deliver me, Jesus” and ending with “Jesus, I trust in you,” I continually ask God to take away all fear and replace it with trust in him.

Litany for Pregnancy

From the fear of complications and unknown outcomes, deliver me Jesus.
From the fear of miscarriage, deliver me Jesus.
From resentment towards my changing body, deliver me Jesus.
From the temptation to control rather than to trust You, deliver me Jesus.
From comparing my pregnancy to that of others, deliver me Jesus.
From discouragement when pregnancy feels difficult, deliver me Jesus.
From the fear of change, deliver me Jesus.
From anxiety about labor and delivery, deliver me Jesus.
From the burden of perfectionism, deliver me Jesus.
From impatience with Your timing, deliver me Jesus.
From doubt in your goodness and faithfulness, deliver me Jesus.
From fear of what the future may hold, deliver me Jesus.
From the fear of being unprepared for motherhood, deliver me Jesus.
From every worry that steals my peace, deliver me Jesus.

That you are lovingly forming my child in my womb, Jesus I trust in you.
That this child has a purpose and a place in our family, Jesus I trust in you.
That you will provide the strength I need for labor and delivery, Jesus I trust in you.
That you are preparing my heart for motherhood, Jesus I trust in you.
That you are present in every joy and every discomfort, Jesus I trust in you.
That you see and care about every desire and longing of my heart, Jesus I trust in you.
That your plans are greater than my own, Jesus I trust in you.
That you are working all things for your good, Jesus I trust in you.
That your peace can guard my heart and mind, Jesus I trust in you.
That no matter what lies ahead, you will never leave me, Jesus I trust in you.