How to pray when your health fails
Illness changes everything. Suddenly routines stop, the body hurts, medical appointments fill the diary, diagnoses create uncertainty and the future becomes hard to imagine. At such times, many people of faith discover that even praying becomes difficult. Tiredness, pain, medication or fear can make it hard to concentrate and hard to find words. Some feel guilty for not praying as they used to; others wonder whether God has forgotten them.
If you are ill today, or caring for someone who is, this article is for you. The Bible is full of people who prayed in weakness, and God never despised them. Here we share biblical and practical guidance for praying when your health fails.
“The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”
Psalm 41:3
God is near to those who suffer
The first thing you need to know is that illness does not mean God has abandoned you. The Bible declares that the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart (Psalm 34:18). Jesus devoted much of his ministry to the sick: he touched lepers, healed the blind and the paralysed, and stopped for a woman who had been ill for twelve years when everyone else ignored her.
God does not love you less because you are ill, nor more when you are healthy and productive. His love does not depend on what you can do. Often, in a hospital bed, people discover a closeness to God they had not experienced in times of health.
Present your need sincerely
The Bible invites you to pray freely for your health. King Hezekiah, sick unto death, turned his face to the wall and prayed with tears. God answered: “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee” (2 Kings 20:5). A leper came to Jesus saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean”, and Jesus, touching him, replied: “I will; be thou clean” (Matthew 8:2-3).
Don’t be afraid to ask for healing. God still heals today, sometimes immediately and surprisingly, and sometimes through a process, through doctors, treatment and time. Ask him with faith, humility and trust in his goodness.
Use the Psalms as your prayers
When you have no strength to form your own words, the Psalms can pray for you. They were written by people who knew pain, anguish and weakness. Some psalms especially helpful in illness are:
Psalm 6: a prayer of someone weakened, whose bones are vexed. Psalm 23: trust in the Shepherd even in the valley of the shadow of death. Psalm 30: a testimony of healing: “O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” Psalm 42: for the sorrow of the soul. Psalm 91: for protection and refuge in God. Psalm 103: to remember God’s benefits, who heals all your diseases. Psalm 121: for when you lift up your eyes looking for help.
You can read one verse, repeat it slowly and let it become your prayer. In our Psalms section you will find all 150 psalms in full.
“O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.”
Psalm 30:2
Short prayers for when there is no strength
You don’t need long prayers. Jesus warned against thinking we will be heard for our many words. In moments of intense pain, one sincere sentence is worth more than a speech. You can repeat prayers like these:
“Lord, have mercy on me.” “Jesus, I’m here; hold me.” “Father, into your hands I put my life.” “Give me strength for today.” “Your grace is sufficient for me.” “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
You can also pray without words. The Bible teaches that when we don’t know what to ask, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). A sigh, a tear or a thought directed to God is also prayer.
Pray honestly about your emotions
Illness brings fear, sadness, frustration and even anger. You don’t have to hide these emotions from God. Job expressed his pain in very strong words, and in the end God restored him. David asked “how long?”. Jesus on the cross prayed with Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Honest prayer is not a lack of faith; it is a form of trust. We only tell our pain to someone we believe is listening.
Let others pray for you
James teaches that the sick should call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and that the prayer of faith shall save the sick (James 5:14-15). You don’t have to carry your illness alone. Ask for prayer from your family, your faith community and your pastors.
In the Gospel, four friends carried a paralysed man to Jesus, even breaking open the roof of a house to lower him down. Jesus, seeing their faith, healed him (Mark 2:1-12). Sometimes, when you cannot walk to God, others carry you in prayer. You can also send your request in our Request prayer section; it will be an honour to pray for you.
Prayer and medicine go hand in hand
Praying for healing does not mean rejecting medical help. The Bible shows the use of remedies: Isaiah prescribed a lump of figs for Hezekiah’s boil; Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach; the good Samaritan treated wounds with oil and wine; and Luke, author of a gospel, was a physician. Health professionals, research and treatments can be instruments of God’s providence.
Follow medical instructions, take your medicines, attend your check-ups and ask whatever you need to know. Pray for your doctors and nurses, that God will give them wisdom. Never abandon a treatment prescribed by a professional because someone pressures you with promises of healing in exchange for money or for giving up medicine.
When healing does not come as you hoped
This is one of the hardest tests of faith. Many people pray faithfully and the illness continues. The apostle Paul also lived with a thorn in the flesh that was not removed, and God answered him: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Trophimus, Paul’s companion, was left sick at Miletus. Timothy had frequent infirmities.
We will not always understand why some people are healed and others are not. But we can trust that God is good, that he sustains us, that his grace is sufficient and that complete healing will come at the resurrection, when there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain (Revelation 21:4). Meanwhile God can give you peace, strength and even joy in the midst of the process.
Pray for others too
Strange as it may seem, illness can become a time of intercession. From a bed you can pray for other sick people, for your family, your church and the nations. Many sick believers have been great intercessors. Your prayer has value before God, even when your body is weak.
Advice for family members and carers
If you are caring for a sick loved one, you can read the Psalms aloud to them, pray with them in short phrases, play gentle worship music, hold their hand while you pray and respect their silences. Care for your own physical, emotional and spiritual health too; carers need rest and support.
A simple prayer plan for days of illness
On waking: give the day to God with a short sentence: “Lord, this day is yours; give me strength for whatever comes.” Read a short verse, such as Psalm 118:24 or Lamentations 3:22-23, which remind us that his mercies are new every morning.
Before an appointment, test or treatment: pray for the professionals who will care for you, ask for peace of mind and clarity to understand the instructions. You can repeat: “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
In moments of pain: breathe slowly and repeat a Bible phrase in rhythm with your breathing, for example: “The Lord is my shepherd” as you breathe in, “I shall not want” as you breathe out. This simple form of prayer has accompanied many believers throughout history.
In the evening: give thanks for something concrete from the day, however small: a visit, good news, a time without pain, a word of encouragement. Gratitude does not deny suffering, but it opens our eyes to God’s goodness in the midst of it.
Before sleeping: hand over your worries with Psalm 4:8: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ask for rest for your body and protection through the night.
If one day you cannot follow this plan, don’t worry. God does not keep a record of your prayers to judge you; he welcomes you with love every time you turn to him, even with a single thought.
A prayer for the sick
Lord Jesus, you who healed the sick and touched those who suffered, look on me today with mercy. My body is weak and my heart is afraid. I ask you to heal me, if it is your will; give wisdom to my doctors and effectiveness to the treatments. When I have no strength to pray, may your Spirit pray for me. Give me your peace that passes all understanding, strength for each day and firm hope in you. I place my life in your hands. Amen.