How can I pray for someone who is ill?
Ask permission, pray briefly, and respect what may be shared. A personal prayer and practical guidance for a visit.
Before praying aloud with someone who is ill, ask: “Would you like me to pray with you?” They may welcome a prayer, prefer quiet company or need you to leave so they can rest.
If they say yes, ask what they would like included. “Tomorrow’s appointment” may be all you need to know. A short prayer can name that concern without rehearsing the person’s medical history.
A prayer for today
You can use this original prayer for personal prayer, replacing “this person” with their name. It is not a quotation from the Prayer Book or an authorised liturgical text.
Merciful God, be near to this person in fear and weariness. Grant healing, comfort and the help needed today. Give wisdom and kindness to those providing care, and strength to those who wait. Help me to listen and to love faithfully. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ask for recovery if that is your hope. There may also be pain to relieve, a decision to face or a carer who needs rest. Let the person’s own concerns shape the prayer. If you would like to hold their hand, ask first.
Then stop. Someone who is exhausted should not have to keep listening for the visitor’s sake.
Hope without a prediction
James 5:13–16 places prayer for the sick within the care of the Church, including prayer with its elders. Asking clergy for support belongs within that shared care.
The passage should not become a test that blames someone who remains ill. Avoid promising that a particular prayer or degree of faith will guarantee recovery. Prayer belongs alongside appropriate healthcare and is never a reason to delay treatment.
The 1662 Visitation of the Sick asks for relief and comfort while making room both for recovery and for the approach of death. Its older language requires care: it should not be used to tell a person why they are suffering. In John 9:1–3, Jesus rejects the disciples’ attempt to blame a man’s blindness on his own or his parents’ sin.
You can ask God for healing and still say, honestly, “I don’t know what will happen.”
After the visit
Before sharing a name or circumstances with a prayer group, ask what may be passed on. Agreement to a prayer beside the bed does not give permission for an email, social media post or public announcement.
If you offer practical help, make the offer concrete and easy to decline. For example: “Would a meal on Tuesday help?” Agree the details with the person or their carer. An open-ended promise to do anything can leave them with the work of organising you.
When you are the one running out of words
Long illness can leave those who care feeling frightened, angry or numb. Romans 8:26–27 speaks of the Holy Spirit’s help when we do not know how to pray. Holding a name before God in silence may be all you can manage today.
You can ask for support too. Christ Church North Adelaide’s Prayer and Pastoral Support page explains how to contact the Rector, request prayer, and ask about visiting or Holy Communion when someone cannot attend church. Obtain consent before requesting prayer for another person. The page is not monitored continuously and is not an emergency service.
