How to pray for someone who is sick: what to pray, with examples
To pray for someone who is sick, ask God plainly to heal them, then pray for everything around the illness: wise doctors, clear test results, less pain, sleep, courage, and strength for the family. Say their name and be specific, pray a verse when you don't have words, and leave the outcome with God. If you can, pray with them, and pair your prayer with something practical, like a meal or a ride.
Below: what the Bible says about praying for the sick, a 5-step way to pray, prayers for each stage of an illness, what to say at the bedside or in a text, how to pray when healing doesn't come, and what to avoid saying.
What does the Bible say about praying for the sick?
It tells us to do it, and to ask for healing without embarrassment. The clearest passage is in James:
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up." James 5:14-15 (WEB)
A few things stand out. The sick person is invited to ask for prayer. The church's leaders come to them. They pray over the person, in person. And the passage goes on: "pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16, WEB), so this isn't only for pastors. Many churches still anoint with oil as James describes; others pray with laying on of hands. Ask your church what it does, and know that a simple prayer from a friend counts too.
Jesus spent much of his ministry healing, and he was moved by sick people. When a man with leprosy said, "If you want to, you can make me clean," Jesus touched him and said, "I want to. Be made clean" (Mark 1:40-41, WEB). He also counted visiting the sick as serving him: "I was sick, and you visited me" (Matthew 25:36, WEB).
The Bible is also honest that not everyone is healed right away. Paul, who saw many healings, wrote that he "left Trophimus at Miletus sick" (2 Timothy 4:20, WEB), and he prayed three times for his own "thorn in the flesh" to be removed and heard instead, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, WEB). Praying for the sick holds both: bold asking, and trust when the answer is slow or different.
How to pray for someone who is sick in 5 steps
This works for a friend with the flu, a parent after a stroke, or someone you've never met on your church's prayer list. It takes two to five minutes. It follows the same pattern as our guide on how to pray for someone, fitted to illness.
- Name them and their illness. "Father, I bring you [name], who has [pneumonia / a scan on Friday / cancer]." You don't need medical words; God knows the details.
- Ask for healing, plainly. "Please heal [name]'s body." Scripture invites it: "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed" (Jeremiah 17:14, WEB).
- Pray for the care around them. Wisdom and steady hands for doctors and nurses, accurate tests, the right treatment, medicine that works, and no mistakes.
- Pray for their heart and their people. Peace instead of fear, sleep, hope, and strength for the spouse or parent who is tired and scared.
- Trust God with them. "They are yours. Your will be done." Jesus prayed this himself, in agony: "not what I desire, but what you desire" (Matthew 26:39, WEB). It is not giving up; it is handing them to someone who loves them more than you do.
What to pray for: by need
When you don't know where to start, pick the need in front of you. Each line has a verse to lean on.
| Need | What to ask for | A verse to pray |
|---|---|---|
| Healing | That God heals the body, fully and soon | Jeremiah 17:14; Psalm 103:2-3 |
| Pain | Relief, medicine that works, rest between bad hours | Psalm 34:18 |
| Fear | Peace that guards their heart and mind | Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 41:10 |
| Doctors and nurses | Wisdom, care, accuracy, time to listen | James 1:5 |
| Waiting on results | Patience, sleep, and clear answers | Psalm 27:14 |
| Sleep | Deep rest in a noisy hospital or a sore body | Psalm 4:8 |
| Loneliness | Visitors, calls, and knowing God is near | Psalm 23:4 |
| Weak faith | Strength inside while the body is weak | 2 Corinthians 4:16 |
| The family and caregivers | Strength, rest, help from others, money for bills | Galatians 6:2 |
Prayers for each stage of an illness
An illness has seasons, and the prayer changes with them. Put the person's name in each one.
A prayer when they first get the diagnosis
"Lord, [name] just heard news that has turned everything upside down. You are not surprised by it. Hold [name] steady. Calm the fear, quiet the what-ifs, and give clear answers in the days ahead. Lead them to the right doctors and the right treatment. And please, heal them. Amen."
Lean on: "Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you" (Isaiah 41:10, WEB).
A prayer before surgery
"Father, tomorrow [name] has surgery. Give the surgeon and the whole team skill, focus and steady hands. Keep [name] safe under anesthesia, and let everything go as planned. Give [name] good sleep tonight and peace in the morning. Be with the family in the waiting room. Bring [name] through and give a good recovery. Amen."
A prayer during treatment
"Lord, the treatment is hard. Let it do its work and do as little harm as possible. Ease the sickness, the tiredness and the pain. Give [name] strength for each appointment and good days in between. Bring friends who help without being asked. Heal [name], and let these months not be wasted. Amen."
A prayer for recovery
"Thank you for bringing [name] this far. Keep healing what's still healing. Give patience on slow days, wisdom about rest and exercise, and courage to do the hard work of getting stronger. Protect [name] from setbacks. We praise you for every step. Amen."
"Praise the LORD, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits; who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2-3, WEB).
A prayer for chronic illness
"Lord, [name] has lived with this a long time, and people stop asking. You haven't forgotten. Give relief from pain, good doctors who listen, and treatments that help. Give [name] joy on hard days and friends who stay. Renew [name] on the inside even as the body struggles. We still ask you to heal. Amen."
"Though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16, WEB).
A prayer for someone in the hospital
"Father, be in that room with [name]. Give the nurses kindness and the doctors wisdom. Let [name] sleep despite the noise and lights. Keep away infection and mistakes. Let every visitor bring comfort, and let [name] go home soon. Amen."
A prayer near the end of life
When someone is dying, it is right to keep asking God for mercy, and also to pray for peace, comfort, and a good goodbye.
"Lord, you have held [name] all their life; hold them now. Take away pain and fear. Give them peace, rest, and the sense that you are near. Give us words to say what needs saying, and time together. When it's time, carry [name] home gently, and comfort all of us who will miss them. Amen."
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4, WEB). For Christians, the last word is hope: "He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more" (Revelation 21:4, WEB).
A prayer for a sick child
"Jesus, you welcomed children. [name] is small and sick and scared. Make the fever break, the medicine work, and the night pass quickly. Give [name] comfort and rest, and give their mom and dad strength and calm. Heal [name] and let them be a kid again soon. Amen."
Our guide on how to pray for your children has more prayers for a child who is struggling.
A prayer for caregivers
The person caring for the sick, often a spouse, a parent or an adult child, is easy to forget. Pray for them by name too.
"Lord, [caregiver] is carrying so much: the appointments, the medicines, the nights, the worry. Give them strength, sleep, patience and help. Send people to take a shift. Remind them that they are loved too, not only needed. Amen."
How to pray with someone who is sick, in person
Being with a sick person and offering to pray can be the most comforting thing you do. A few things make it kind:
- Ask first. "Would you like me to pray with you?" Some people are too tired or not in the mood. If they say no, say you'll pray at home, and do.
- Ask what they'd like prayer for. It might not be what you expect: sleep, a hard family conversation, or their dog at home.
- Keep it short. One or two minutes. Sick people tire fast.
- Touch only if welcome. A hand on the arm or holding hands can comfort, but ask, and follow the hospital's rules about infection.
- Use simple words and their name. No sermon, no explanations of why this happened.
- Leave quickly and kindly. A short visit with a prayer beats a long one that wears them out.
A one-minute example at the bedside: "Lord, thank you for Tom. You know how hard this week has been. Please heal his body. Give the doctors wisdom about the next step, take the edge off the pain, and give him real sleep tonight. Be with Linda as she drives back and forth. We trust you with Tom. In Jesus' name, amen."
If you're sick yourself or have a cold, pray from home instead and send a message; the hospital will thank you.
What to text someone who is sick
A written prayer is something people reread at 3 a.m. Keep it short, specific, and free of pressure to reply.
- "Praying for you this morning: for the scan to be clear and for you to rest after. No need to reply."
- "I asked God to give your surgeon steady hands today and to give you peace. Thinking of you."
- "Prayed Psalm 4:8 for you tonight: 'In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep.' Hope tonight is a good one."
- "Still praying, even if it's been a while since the diagnosis. Can I bring dinner Thursday?"
That last one matters. Prayer and help go together: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, WEB).
How to pray when healing doesn't come
This is the hardest part, and most pages skip it. You prayed, others prayed, and the illness stayed or got worse. Some things to hold on to:
- It is not a lack of faith. Paul wasn't healed of his thorn. Timothy had frequent stomach trouble, and Paul suggested a remedy rather than scolding him (1 Timothy 5:23). Godly people get sick and stay sick.
- Tell God the truth. The psalms are full of honest complaint: "How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1, WEB). You can pray that too.
- Keep asking. Jesus taught persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1). Keep asking for healing as long as it's possible.
- Widen what you ask for. Alongside healing, pray for comfort, good days, relationships mended, faith that holds, and God's nearness. These are real answers.
- Remember the end of the story. Christians pray in the hope that every sickness is temporary, even when healing comes only on the other side of death.
If you're grieving or worn out from praying, our guide on how to pray when you don't know what to say has simple ways to keep talking to God when words run out. A breath prayer like "Lord Jesus, have mercy on [name]" can be prayed in a waiting room a hundred times.
Prayer and medical care
Praying for healing and getting good medical care belong together. Luke, who wrote a Gospel and the book of Acts, was a doctor (Colossians 4:14 calls him "the beloved physician"). Pray for the treatment, not instead of it. Encourage a sick friend to keep appointments and follow their doctor's advice, and never suggest that stopping medicine shows faith. In an emergency, call 911 first and pray on the way.
What not to say when you pray for someone who is sick
- "If you have enough faith, you'll be healed." It puts the weight of the outcome on a sick person and isn't what Scripture teaches.
- "Everything happens for a reason." Even if you believe God works through suffering, it feels dismissive in the moment. Romans 12:15 says "Weep with those who weep" (WEB), not explain to them.
- "God won't give you more than you can handle." That verse (1 Corinthians 10:13) is about temptation, not illness, and many sick people feel they've been given far more than they can handle.
- Long prayers that preach. A bedside prayer isn't the place to teach a lesson.
- Sharing their details without permission. Before adding someone to a church list or group chat, ask what they're happy to have shared.
Common questions
What is a short prayer for someone who is sick?
"Lord, please heal [name]. Give the doctors wisdom, take away the pain and fear, and give [name] rest and peace. We trust you with them. Amen." It takes about ten seconds and covers healing, care, comfort and trust.
What Bible verse is good to pray for healing?
James 5:14-15 is the classic passage on praying for the sick. Jeremiah 17:14, "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed," and Psalm 103:2-3 are good to pray with someone's name in them. For fear, Isaiah 41:10; for the long haul, 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Should I ask my church elders to pray, as James 5 says?
If you or someone you love is seriously ill, yes. James tells the sick person to call for them. Most pastors are glad to visit, pray, and, in many churches, anoint with oil. Call the church office and ask.
How do I pray for someone who is sick and doesn't believe?
The same way: ask for healing, comfort and good care. If you offer to pray with them in person, ask first and respect their answer. Many people who don't pray themselves are still glad to know someone is praying for them.
How often should I pray for a sick friend?
Daily during a crisis, and as often as they come to mind. Write their name where you pray each day and keep going after the first week, when most people stop. Check in to learn what to pray next.
Is it OK to pray for healing and also pray for God's will?
Yes. Jesus did both in Gethsemane: he asked for the cup to pass, and then said, "not what I desire, but what you desire" (Matthew 26:39, WEB). Asking boldly and trusting fully go together.
If you'd like a 10-minute guided prayer each day that leaves quiet moments for the people you're praying for, answer a few questions to get your free 40-day prayer plan. For a spouse who is ill, see how to pray for your husband, or browse all our prayer guides.
Sources
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Pages read for this guide: Crosswalk, "7 Comforting Prayers for Sickness"; Reframe Ministries, "Praying for the Sick"; UCB Ireland, "How to Pray When You're Sick".