Jesus wept at Lazarus’s grave, even knowing He was about to raise him from the dead a few minutes later. He didn’t skip the tears because the outcome was already settled. He let Himself feel Mary and Martha’s pain right alongside them first.
These thirty verses are for a friend who’s hurting right now, physically or otherwise, whether the pain has a clear cause or not.
Pray these with them in mind, and let your presence be part of the answer, not just your words.
Prayer for a Friend in Pain
1. John 11:33-36 (KJV)
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!”
Prayer: You were deeply moved and wept at a friend’s pain. Let me feel my friend’s pain that same way, not from a distance.
Let empathy come before I try to fix anything.
2. Romans 12:15 (KJV)
“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
Prayer: Let me mourn with my friend who mourns, truly present, not just physically nearby.
Let me actually feel this with her, not just observe it.
3. Psalms 34:18 (KJV)
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Prayer: You are close to the brokenhearted. Be close to my friend right now.
Let her feel that closeness through me too.
4. Psalms 147:3 (KJV)
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Prayer: Heal her broken places and bind up her wounds, however long that takes.
Let healing not be rushed, but let it still be real for her.
5. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV)
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Prayer: You are the God of all comfort. Comfort her through me, with the comfort I’ve received.
Let comfort I’ve received become comfort I can actually give.
6. Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Prayer: Let me carry this burden alongside her, fulfilling what You’ve asked of me.
Let me actually lighten her load, not just express sympathy.
7. Job 2:13 (KJV)
“So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”
Prayer: Let me be willing to simply sit with her in pain, the way Job’s friends first did.
Let presence, not advice, be what I offer first.
8. Psalms 6:2 (KJV)
“Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.”
Prayer: Heal her, Lord, wherever the pain is centered right now.
Let this honest cry actually reach You on her behalf.
9. Psalms 55:22 (KJV)
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Prayer: Let her cast this burden on You, and let You sustain her through it.
Let her feel permission to hand this to You, not carry it alone.
10. Isaiah 53:3-4 (KJV)
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
Prayer: You are familiar with suffering, a man of sorrows. Let her know You truly understand her pain.
Let this not be a distant sympathy, but real understanding.
11. Psalms 34:17-19 (KJV)
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Prayer: Let her cry out and be heard, delivered from all her troubles.
Let deliverance be as thorough as this promise claims.
12. Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Prayer: Let her come to You weary and burdened, and receive the rest You promised.
Let rest reach her even in the middle of this pain.
13. Psalms 30:5 (KJV)
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Prayer: Let this weeping endure only for a night, and let joy come in the morning.
Let this season not feel permanent, even though right now it does.
14. Psalms 116:1-8 (KJV)
“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.”
Prayer: Let her know You hear her voice, delivering her soul from this specific trouble.
Let this same rescue reach her the way it reached the one who wrote this psalm.
15. Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJV)
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Prayer: You sympathize with her weakness, having faced every temptation, yet without sin. Let her approach You with confidence.
Let her know she’s not judged for how much this hurts.
16. Psalms 73:26 (KJV)
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Prayer: Her flesh and her heart may fail, but let You be the strength of her heart.
Let Your strength stand in exactly where hers gives out.
17. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Prayer: Don’t let her be afraid, You are with her, strengthening and upholding her.
Let Your presence be as real to her as mine is trying to be.
18. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (KJV)
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Prayer: Let her not lose heart, even though outwardly she’s wasting away, let her be renewed inwardly day by day.
Let renewal happen for her even when nothing visible has changed.
19. Psalms 121:1-2 (KJV)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Prayer: Let her lift her eyes to You, remembering where her help actually comes from.
Let her find real help, not just distraction from the pain.
20. Nahum 1:7 (KJV)
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
Prayer: You are good, a refuge for her in this time of trouble.
Let being cared for feel real to her, not distant.
21. Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Prayer: Be her refuge and strength, a very present help in this exact kind of pain.
Let help feel present, not distant.
22. James 5:14-16 (KJV)
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Prayer: Let the prayer offered in faith, and by those who love her, raise her up.
Let this community’s prayer, not just mine, carry weight here.
23. Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Prayer: A friend loves at all times, born for a time of trouble like this. Let me be that friend right now.
Let this hard season not be when I disappear from her life.
24. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV)
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
Prayer: Two are better than one, especially when one falls. Let me help her up when she needs it.
Let me be there for the falling, not just the standing back up.
25. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Prayer: Let her cast this anxiety on You, trusting You genuinely care.
Let casting it be real relief for her.
26. Psalms 143:8 (KJV)
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
Prayer: Let her hear of Your unfailing love this morning, trusting in You.
Let today’s mercy be enough for her today.
27. Colossians 3:12 (KJV)
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Prayer: Clothe me with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience toward her right now.
Let me actually be useful to her, not just well-meaning.
28. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: Let her bring this pain to You, and let peace guard her heart and mind.
Let peace reach her even in the hardest moments.
29. Revelation 21:4 (KJV)
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Prayer: One day You will wipe every tear from her eyes, and there will be no more pain.
Let hope for that day carry real weight in this one.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless her and keep her, make Your face shine on her, and give her peace.
Let this old blessing settle over her today specifically.
Conclusion
The tears came before the miracle, not after. Jesus never rushed past real pain to get to the resolution, even when He knew exactly how the story would end.
Show up before you know what to say. Presence usually matters more than the perfect words anyway.
For a friend dealing specifically with illness, a short prayer for a sick friend is the one to reach for.