Times of sickness are unavoidable in this fallen world.
Some illnesses are fairly minor. Viruses and infections, colds and flu, chicken pox and pink eye.
Others are much more serious, threatening our well-being and in the worst cases, our very lives.
I’m writing this post with great care, because I’ve been there, and in many ways I’m still there, walking with loved ones through various illnesses.
My husband had a brush with cancer. I have loved ones with chronic illnesses like Lyme’s and lupus and others with mystery illnesses that are yet undiagnosed.
But I’ve never been in your shoes.
So I don’t want to offer you empty clichés. I don’t want to take your pain lightly. I don’t want to write as though I completely understand what you’re going through, because I don’t. I’ve walked the path of pain, but I haven’t walked your path.
I’m convinced that the very best thing I can do for you is to commit you to the One who knows all things, and to remind you of His complete and utter goodness.
Even if it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. And even if it doesn’t look the way we want it to. And especially when it doesn’t look the way we think it should.
Today I want to encourage you, my fellow believer, to pray for healing, even as I remind you with great gentleness that the healing of your soul has already been accomplished, and the complete healing of your body will only ever come in heaven.
I urge you to ask for your sickness to be removed even as I whisper assurances in your ear that times of trial bring growth and refinement and strength and the sweetness of His presence like you’ve never experienced it before.
To that end, it’s my earnest desire that praying the Scriptures below would be an encouragement to your heart as you press on.
Table of contents
Prayers for Strength in Times of Sickness
Give the LORD praise for being the God of all flesh, and the One who asks, “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Agree with Him that the answer is a resounding NO! Nothing is too difficult for Him, and even the things that are humanly impossible are possible with Him (Mark 10:27).
Thank God for knowing you intimately, for seeing you in your mother’s womb and for knowing every facet of your body and your life (Psalm 139:13-16). Praise Him that no aspect of your body or your health is a secret to Him, and that nothing takes Him by surprise.
Claim God’s promise that because the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal body through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).
Acknowledge to God that decay is part of this sin-inflicted world. Ask God to help you not lose heart as your body is decaying, because your spirit is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). Thank God for this continual restoration of your spirit.
Revel in these precious promises from your God: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Claim each promise for your very own.
Remind God of His promised grace that is sufficient, and of His power that is made perfect in weakness. Ask that He would enable you to embrace your weaknesses, knowing that they open the door for the power of God to rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Praise your Savior for His invitation that all who labor and are heavy laden should come to Him. Claim His promised rest (Matthew 11:28).
Ask God to grant you spiritual eyes that see the blessing that accompanies suffering. Pray that He would help you rejoice in your sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put you to shame, because God’s love has been poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you (Romans 5:3-5).
Pray that God would give you power when you are faint, and strength when you are weak. Remind God of His promise that those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:29-31). Ask Him to help you wait on Him.
Rejoice that one day, the Lord will will wipe away every tear from your eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4). Ask that God would keep this hope fresh in your heart.
Take some time in stillness before the Lord, casting all your anxieties on Him, resting in the truth that He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
Thank your Savior for being wounded for your transgressions and crushed for your iniquities; ponder the wonder of your peace with God being secured through the punishment He endured, and that your healing was made possible by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5). Share with Him all your pain; He understands.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the LORD, the God of all flesh, and nothing is too difficult for You. Sometimes You show Your goodness through healing, and other times You show Your goodness by strengthening us to endure suffering. I pray that You would increase our faith and open our eyes to see Your purpose for our lives. In closing, my heart echoes the psalmist’s:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Amen.
adivineencounter.com
Have you ever needed supernatural strength to face a situation head-on, but not known what to pray? God is waiting and wants to offer us strength in time of need. Do not be afraid to pray and ask God for His strength to fall upon you! When you are weak, weary or unready to stand, and unsure of what to ask, pray along with these words!
A Prayer for Strength
Lord, I’m weary. My energy is sagging, and my motivation is lagging. And I am so in need of you. I need your strength and your fresh touch to get back on track again. Your Word says the joy of the Lord is my strength. If that’s true, then I need your joy to replace all the bone-tired parts of my mind, body, and soul.
The pressures of life sometimes push me into a corner, rendering me helpless to move forward. A hundred voices call my name, and I feel paralyzed at times to answer, not knowing where to turn. Lord, help me not to quit, to keep running the race faithfully, and to find strength in that safe, secret place of yours, under the shadow of the Almighty.
I need your strength to say no when I’m tempted to surrender to harmful things, or when selfishness clings to my clothes and won’t let go. I need your strength to say yes, when cowardice and fear nudge me to deny the convictions of my heart. I need your strength to reach out in love to those both close to me and all around me. When don’t I need your strength, God?
You are my rock, and I run to you today, believing that you will lift up my heavy arms, that you will fuel me for the tasks you’ve given me, and that your joy will completely consume the weakness of my life and make me strong again. I don’t want to stay grounded, crippled by limitations and failed attempts. I’m tired of feeble efforts. Lord, I want to mount up with wings like an eagle and not just fly. I want to soar.
Renew my strength, Lord. Fill me with your supernatural power to overcome each obstacle in my path. With my eyes on you, Lord, with you walking beside me, working through me, I can make it. Thank you, Lord!
In Jesus’s name, Amen
A Prayer for Strength and Encouragement
Lord, like David, I need your encouragement in a time of trial and anguish. Thank you that you are always on the throne, always my God, ready to save. Thank you for being the same God to me that you were to David. Thank you for always being near and always rescuing me from my fears and hurts. Lord, help me remember that daybreak might be just ahead, that this trial will not last forever. Fill me with hope that daybreak is coming and that your love will always prevail! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
~ A Good Thing Devotional
A Prayer for Strength to Endure
Lord, I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial. Help me to stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thank you for your love for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom!
~ Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding
What are you praying for strength for today? Join our large praying community in the comments below and experience the power, hope, and comfort of being joined in prayer!
Here are more Prayers for Strength when you need God to lift you up in hard times!
Additional Prayer Resources
Here is a collection of some of our favorite Bible verses about the promises of God’s strength. May these give you hope and encouragement to persevere with a bold confidence! Find the complete list at BibleStudyTools.com’s Scripture page.
- “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” ~ Isaiah 40:29
- “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31
- “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” ~ Psalm 46:1
- “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” ~ Psalm 28:7-8
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
Publication date: August 4, 2015, Updated: January 22,2018
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerSinner’s PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for GuidanceIntercessory PrayerPrayer for PeacePrayer for FaithPrayer for Love
Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional! An easy way to find start your day with prayer, read today’s prayer and sign up to receive by email.
www.crosswalk.com
