Prayers for Illness
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.
Are any among you sick? They should call the elders of the church and have them pray with them.
- James 5:13 (NRSV)
Although there are few guarantees for us in life, one of those guarantees is that things won't always be easy for us or our families. We inevitably will go through seasons when either we ourselves, or someone we love, will be faced with a difficult illness or diagnosis. When we lift up prayers in these situations, we do so hoping that either we or they will be made well - but ultimately we lift up our prayers from a deep sense of trust that God is alongside us no matter the outcome.
Prayer with Young Children
God, we are feeling really sad right now -
we are sad about ________, and we could use your help.
Help us remember that you are always with us.
Help _________ to feel better,
and help us have patience if it's not as fast as we want. Amen.
Struggling
Holy God, we need your help.
We are struggling with how we are feeling.
We are struggling with what this means for our family.
We are struggling with trusting in you right now.
We are struggling in other ways, too, and we name some of those now:
_____________ (encourage your kids to share something they're having a hard time with).
God, we know that you hear and see all of our struggles.
May you help carry us in times when we need your strength. Amen.
It's Not Fair
God, it's not fair that sometimes people get hurt or sick.
It is really hard to know that they don't feel well,
and we wish that we could make it all better right now.
Remind us that your love is with us even when we don't feel well,
whether it's through the people caring for us,
or in the prayers of our family and friends,
or in other ways that you show care for us. Amen.
Feeling Lonely
God, sometimes the hardest part about being sick
is how lonely it can feel.
We don't feel like ourselves,
we don't like doing things we usually do,
and we miss spending time with our friends.
But we know that we have a friend in you,
and because of your love, we are never really alone. Amen.
Even When
Even when we can't see you, God,
we know you're right by our side.
Even when we don't feel your love,
your love is with us more than we can know.
Even when we are feeling really bad,
you hold us in the palm of your hand,
and watch over us for all our days.
Give me strength, peace, and comfort. Amen.
Are any among you sick? They should call the elders of the church and have them pray with them.
- James 5:13 (NRSV)
Although there are few guarantees for us in life, one of those guarantees is that things won't always be easy for us or our families. We inevitably will go through seasons when either we ourselves, or someone we love, will be faced with a difficult illness or diagnosis. When we lift up prayers in these situations, we do so hoping that either we or they will be made well - but ultimately we lift up our prayers from a deep sense of trust that God is alongside us no matter the outcome.
Prayer with Young Children
God, we are feeling really sad right now -
we are sad about ________, and we could use your help.
Help us remember that you are always with us.
Help _________ to feel better,
and help us have patience if it's not as fast as we want. Amen.
Struggling
Holy God, we need your help.
We are struggling with how we are feeling.
We are struggling with what this means for our family.
We are struggling with trusting in you right now.
We are struggling in other ways, too, and we name some of those now:
_____________ (encourage your kids to share something they're having a hard time with).
God, we know that you hear and see all of our struggles.
May you help carry us in times when we need your strength. Amen.
It's Not Fair
God, it's not fair that sometimes people get hurt or sick.
It is really hard to know that they don't feel well,
and we wish that we could make it all better right now.
Remind us that your love is with us even when we don't feel well,
whether it's through the people caring for us,
or in the prayers of our family and friends,
or in other ways that you show care for us. Amen.
Feeling Lonely
God, sometimes the hardest part about being sick
is how lonely it can feel.
We don't feel like ourselves,
we don't like doing things we usually do,
and we miss spending time with our friends.
But we know that we have a friend in you,
and because of your love, we are never really alone. Amen.
Even When
Even when we can't see you, God,
we know you're right by our side.
Even when we don't feel your love,
your love is with us more than we can know.
Even when we are feeling really bad,
you hold us in the palm of your hand,
and watch over us for all our days.
Give me strength, peace, and comfort. Amen.