As a parent or spouse, nothing alters life more than an illness. Whether it’s a case of the flu or a life-threatening ailment, nobody likes seeing the ones they love suffer. We pray in such difficult times. Sickness drives us to Christ, as we offer healing prayers for family members. 

Key Takeaways

  • Hezekiah’s story and Jesus’ healing ministry remind us that sincere, faith-filled prayer moves the heart of God and invites His power into our lives.
  • Prayer connects our hearts to God’s power and invites the Holy Spirit to intercede even when we don’t know what to say.
  • You can pray Scripture-based prayers that call on God as the Great Physician, Creator, Compassionate Father, and Jehovah Rapha.
  • God often uses both miracles and medical professionals to bring healing, and we should pray boldly for both while giving Him the glory.
  • Even when healing doesn’t come as expected, we can trust God’s eternal plan and remember that ultimate healing is found in Him.

Healing Prayers Are Biblical 

Prayers for family healing come from a deep, but tender, spot in our hearts. When a family member is sick, we’d sacrifice our own health if it meant they would be made whole again. And I think God is pleased with prayers for sick family members because His Word challenges us to bring those illnesses to His throne. 

One of my favorite healing stories relates to King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20. Hezekiah wasn’t perfect, but he was a godly man who tried to lead Israel in the right direction. When he got sick, though, God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him to get his affairs in order. With a broken heart, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord for healing, and God responded. Before Isaiah made it outside of the palace grounds, God commanded him to go back and tell Hezekiah that he would have fifteen more years.

You can also see Jesus’ mercy toward the sick in the Gospels. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus met people who asked for healing—either for themselves or for others. And many times, He answered their prayers. Later, James encouraged members of the early church to pray for healing because “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15).

Heartfelt Prayers for Healing

God cares about healing prayers for family members because He cares about people. And He expects His followers to bring their needs to Him, including prayers for healing. But, as mentioned, sick family members can leave us speechless. We don’t know what to say or how to say it.

We feel that stress in our lives. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit can make sense of our tangled thoughts and emotions. He can give us the words to say, and when the pain strikes really deep, He can pray to the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).

If you’re in a place where you need a prayer for family healing, you can bring your requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7). Here are five simple, Bible-based prayers you can use as you lift up sick family members to the Lord. You can speak them verbatim, or you can use them as a springboard for your own feelings. Either way, let them guide your heart and mind as you pray for healing in the life of a family member.

The Great Physician

Heavenly Father, You are the Great Physician. Your wisdom and power exceed anything offered by human doctors, as valuable as they are. You see, and You care about what’s going on with my family member. You have the ability to heal them, so we bring them before You. Bring them comfort. Bring them healing. Do what only You can do. And we will give You the glory!

Creator and Sustainer

Dear Lord, You made us from the dust. You shaped us with Your hands, and You breathed life into our bodies. You created our inward parts and knitted us together in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13). No one knows us better than You. No one is more qualified to bring healing and health to our family member in this moment. We ask You to restore their body, the body that You created. Remove the disease and bring joy and strength to Your servant again. We love You, and we thank You for hearing our cries to You.

Compassionate God

Merciful God, You once told Moses that You are a compassionate and gracious God (Exodus 34:6). When You described Yourself, You focused on Your everlasting love and mercy. We lean into that compassion and mercy right now. You see the sickness in our family member. You know the pain and suffering they are experiencing. We are begging You to be moved by their helpless condition. Lord, they cannot heal themselves. Look down on them with love. Surround them with Your presence and bring healing to their lives. We have no hope but You. We confess Your power, and we cry out for Your mercy. Thank You for being the God who cares—and the God who heals.

For Medical Professionals

Our Father in heaven, we believe that You can heal our family member. We acknowledge that You can work miracles. The One who gave sight to the blind and allowed lame men to walk centuries ago is the same God we serve today. If You choose to bring healing by miracle, we thank You. But we also know that You have given special gifts and talents to medical professionals. You have equipped them to be Your hands and feet, to bring relief to the hurting and healing to the broken. If You choose to work in that way, we also thank You. Bless the doctors and nurses caring for our loved one. Give them wisdom and discernment. Guide their steps and their thoughts. Whether by miracle or by medicine, do Your good work for Your glory.

Jehovah Rapha

Loving Father, You make Yourself known in so many powerful ways through Your Word. Right now, we claim the power of one name in particular, Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. You said that You are the God who heals (Exodus 15:26). We are called to remember Your benefits, including the healing of our diseases (Psalm 103:3). And we can never forget that we find the ultimate healing of salvation through Your wounds (Isaiah 53:5). In so many ways, You are in the healing business. So, we aren’t shy about coming to You on behalf of our family member. They need You to be Jehovah Rapha in this moment. Meet them where they are. Heal them by Your powerful hand. Be the God who heals for them. Thank You for allowing us to bring our hurts and requests to You.

When Prayers Seem Unanswered

In 1990, Wayne Watson released an album called “Home Free.” In the title track, he sang about how people faithfully and sincerely pray for the healing of family members. But he also acknowledged that those prayers sometimes seem to go unanswered. Despite our honest cries to God, physical healing doesn’t always come. The chronic illness may not go away, or the illness might be terminal.

In those cases, Watson suggested, it’s best to see healing through God’s eyes, the eyes of eternity. Rather than assuming God didn’t answer our prayers for healing, we should recognize that He is in control of every situation—especially when we feel out of control. Even death, our worst-case scenario, means ultimate healing in His presence. It’s not something we necessarily want to think about, but no discussion of healing prayers is complete without confessing this truth.

Disease and suffering—and even death—are a part of living in this broken world. So, while we pray earnestly for the healing of our family members, we must remember God’s will and purposes are perfect. Ultimately, as Christians, we will be freed from the sins and sicknesses of this world.

How do you pray for loved ones to heal?

Pray by bringing your loved one’s name before God, asking for His healing touch, and trusting Him to work according to His perfect will (James 5:15).

How do you pray for someone who has a sick family member?

When someone you know has a sick family member, ask God to give them strength, peace, and healing in the middle of their struggle (Philippians 4:6–7).

What is a powerful prayer for your loved ones?

A powerful prayer for your loved one is drawn from Psalm 103:3—“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases…”

How do you tell someone you’re praying for their healing?

To let someone know you’re praying for their healing, simply say, “I’m lifting you up in prayer and asking God to bring healing, peace, and strength to you and your family.”