Imagine your closest friend, usually full of life, begins to withdraw. They stop answering calls, no longer show up for gatherings, and seem distant. After much hesitation, they confide in you about their silent struggle with depression. You’re heartbroken but unsure how to help. Have you ever felt that helpless feeling, standing by someone in their darkest moments? How can you offer meaningful support when words alone seem inadequate?
One of the most powerful things you can do is pray for them. But how do you pray for someone going through depression? What should you say to offer hope and comfort when their world feels like it’s falling apart? These are questions that many grapple with when they watch a loved one fight this internal battle.
How to Pray for Someone With Depression
The good news is that prayer offers a path toward healing, not only for the person struggling but also for those who support them. In this article, we will talk about 12 helpful ways to pray for someone with depression—prayers that invite God’s presence, healing, strength, and peace into their life. Through thoughtful, intentional prayer, you can be a source of light in their journey toward recovery.
1. Start by Acknowledging God’s Presence
Acknowledging God’s presence invites His peace into the situation. This is an essential way to begin because it helps the person understand that they are not alone and that God is with them even in their pain.
“Dear Heavenly Father, we know You are always present, even in the darkest valleys. We thank You for being with us and for Your never-ending love. Today, we lift up [person’s name] to You and ask for Your peace to surround them. Let them feel Your comforting presence right now, reminding them that You are near and that they are never alone in their struggle.”
This prayer emphasizes God’s constant presence, aligning with verses like Isaiah 41:10, which reminds us, “Do not fear, for I am with you.
2. Pray for Healing and Restoration
Depression can feel like a burden that is too heavy to carry. Asking God for healing and restoration is a plea for the renewal of the mind and spirit. It seeks the transformation of emotional pain into peace, joy, and hope.
“Lord, I bring [person’s name] before You, asking for Your healing touch upon their heart and mind. In their time of despair, I ask that You lift their burden and replace their sadness with joy, their anxiety with peace, and their darkness with light. We know You are the Great Healer, and we trust that You can restore the brokenness they feel right now. Let them experience the fullness of Your love and healing power.”
This prayer can be reinforced with scriptures like Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
3. Ask for Comfort and Strength
Depression often makes even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming, and during such times, it is important to pray for strength and comfort from God. Praying for these things helps the person find refuge in God’s promises and draws them closer to Him.
“Father, we ask for Your comfort to surround [person’s name] during this difficult time. When they feel overwhelmed, remind them that You are their refuge, their strength, and their ever-present help in times of trouble. Strengthen them to face each day with renewed courage, and give them the grace to find peace in Your Word. Let them rest in the assurance that You care for them deeply and will never abandon them.”
This aligns with the promise found in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
4. Pray for Peace of Mind
Depression often comes with constant anxiety, negative thoughts, and mental unrest. Praying for peace of mind helps invite God’s calm into the midst of internal storms, allowing for mental clarity and rest.
“Lord, we ask that You quiet the troubled thoughts that fill [person’s name]’s mind. Replace their anxiety and confusion with Your perfect peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Let Your calmness flood their heart and mind, stilling every thought that causes them distress. Surround them with Your tranquility, that they may find rest and security in Your presence.”
This is echoed in Philippians 4:7, which says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
5. Intercede for Hope and Purpose
Depression often dims a person’s view of the future, making it hard to see any purpose or hope. This prayer seeks God’s help in restoring hope and reminding the individual of their value and purpose in Him.
“God, we lift up [person’s name] and ask that You remind them of their inherent worth and value in Your eyes. When they feel lost or purposeless, may they remember that they are loved beyond measure by You. Reveal to them the plans and purpose You have for their life, even in moments of darkness. Help them rediscover hope in Your promises and give them the strength to move forward in faith, knowing that You hold their future.”
This prayer aligns with the comforting words found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
6. Pray for Support and Guidance
When someone is dealing with depression, it can feel incredibly isolating. During this difficult time, praying for supportive relationships and wise guidance is essential. We can ask God to bring the right people into their life—people who will encourage and uplift them—and guide them toward the help they need, whether through professional care, friendship, or spiritual guidance.
“Lord, we ask that You surround [person’s name] with people who will love, support, and care for them in this time of need. Let them feel the warmth of community and friendship, even when they feel alone. We also pray that You guide them to the resources, counselors, and care they need to walk through this season of depression. Open doors for healing and let them feel Your hand guiding them through this journey.”
This prayer reflects the call in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
7. Trust in God’s Plan
In times of struggle, it’s important to remember that God’s plan is often beyond our understanding. Ending a prayer by surrendering the situation to God reinforces our faith that He is working even when we can’t see immediate results. It’s a declaration of trust, knowing that He is shaping circumstances for the ultimate good, even if the healing process seems slow.
“Lord, we trust [person’s name] into Your hands, knowing that You are in control of their journey. Even when the road seems long and the healing is slow, we believe that You are at work, shaping and guiding each moment for their good. Help us to trust in Your perfect timing and to remain steadfast in faith, knowing that Your plans for [person’s name] are for hope, healing, and restoration. We leave them in Your loving care, fully trusting in Your goodness.”
This aligns with the promise in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
8. You’re not alone
Gracious Father, I thank You for Your constant presence in our lives. Today, I lift up [person’s name] to You, who may be feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Remind them, Lord, that they are never alone. Just as You promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), let them feel Your presence surrounding them in every moment.
When the darkness of depression or loneliness feels too heavy, be their guiding light. Surround them with Your love and grace, and send people into their lives who will stand by them, offering support and care. Help them to find comfort in knowing that You are with them, even in the silence, and that Your love will never fail them. Amen.
9. It may be hard to believe right now, but the way you’re feeling will change.
Dear God, we come before You in faith, knowing that You are the God who can bring change and restoration. I lift up [person’s name], who is struggling to see beyond the weight of their current feelings.
Lord, we trust that seasons of hardship do not last forever. Your word promises that weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Bring them hope, Father, even during their pain.
Help them to believe that better days are ahead and that Your healing power can transform their heart, mind, and spirit. May they cling to the truth that You are a God of new beginnings and that this chapter is not the end of their story. Amen.
10. Tell me what I can do now to help you
Lord Jesus, You taught us to love one another and bear each other’s burdens. I pray for [person’s name], who is struggling right now, and I ask that You show me how I can be of help. Grant me wisdom and sensitivity to know what they need, even if they cannot express it themselves.
Open my heart to be a source of comfort and strength for them. Guide my words and actions so that they feel supported and cared for. Let me be a vessel of Your love, offering practical help and spiritual encouragement in this difficult season. Give me the patience to walk alongside them and the grace to listen and understand their needs. Amen.
11. Even if I’m not able to understand exactly how you feel, I care about you and want to help
Merciful God, I lift up [person’s name] to You, knowing that I may not fully comprehend the depth of their pain but trusting that You understand completely. Your Word says that You are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
Lord, I may not have all the answers or the perfect words to offer, but I know that You are the ultimate source of comfort. Help me to be a compassionate friend, someone who shows care, even when I don’t fully understand their experience.
Please give me the grace to offer my presence, my listening ear, and my prayers. Let [person’s name] feel supported, loved, and cherished, knowing that they matter deeply to both me and to You. Amen.
12. You’re important to me
Lord, I thank You for the gift of [person’s name] in my life. As they walk through this difficult season, I pray that they will know how valuable they are both to me and to You.
Remind them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and that their life holds deep significance, even if they cannot see it right now.
Help me to express my love and care in ways that lift their spirit. Let them feel Your love through me, and may they be reassured of their worth in Your eyes.
Lord, continue to guide me in showing how much [person’s name] means to me and to all those who love them. May they never feel unseen or unimportant, and may Your love be the constant reminder of their infinite value. Amen.
Conclusion
Praying for someone with depression is a powerful way to show love and support. While it may feel like there’s little you can do to ease their pain, prayer is a direct way to bring hope, peace, and healing into their life.
By praying for God’s presence, comfort, and strength, you help remind them they are not alone, even during their toughest times. Your prayers can give them the courage to keep going and open their hearts to God’s healing.
Though it may take time, remember that God listens to every prayer. Your faith in His power can be a beacon of light, leading you through the darkness of depression. By continually praying for their emotional and mental health, you become a source of encouragement and comfort, helping them feel seen, heard, and loved.
