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10 Comforting Prayers for a Friend with Cancer
Learning that your friend whom you love dearly has a cancer diagnosis is one of the most painful and heart-breaking news you’ll receive. Cancer patients go through a lot of pain physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Knowing what to say to cancer patients can be tricky and intimidating, and you fear saying the wrong things as well. That’s where the power of prayer comes in, and these prayers for a friend with cancer can help you surrender the cancer journey to the mighty God.
When they first hear the news about their cancer diagnosis, your friend will probably be shocked. Questions such as “Why me, O God?” will pop into their head. Normally, a person feels anxious about the cancer treatment that’s ahead and even fears death itself.
It’s not an easy journey for the cancer patient or their loved ones because a lot of things are out of their control. As their friend, you can be there to offer them emotional support, strength, and definitely powerful intercession too.
Whether it’s breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, or any terminal cancer, medical treatment can cause so much strain, even financially, for the patient. Support groups are so important not just from friends and family members but from the church and community too.
As the friend of a cancer patient, your presence is what they need now more than the perfect words. The Bible encourages companionship always, especially in hard times. Even Jesus Christ sent the disciples to do ministry in pairs.
And He called the twelve to Himself and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Mark 6:7 NIV
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT
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What to pray for a friend with cancer
The word of God is full of promises of how we are never alone in tough times. Prayer is more effective when we pray bible verses because the word is honored more than the name of the Father.
- Acceptance of the diagnosis of cancer
It may not be easy for your dear friend to accept the diagnosis of cancer cells in their body, as it may feel like a death sentence. Pray for God’s help during this time as he holds them in his loving arms.
- Family members
The cancer journey is not only a tough time for your friend but for their family as well. Cancer takes a toll not only physically, mentally, and emotionally but financially as well for the family. Pray for God’s power and guidance during this time.
- The mighty God’s healing hands
God’s holy will is for us to be in good health, but he allows sickness for a season and reason. Jesus Christ performed numerous miracles in the Bible, which resulted in complete healing for those who were sick. An example is the woman with the issue of blood who was healed through faith. The same spirit of Jesus can heal your friend today.
- The medical professionals
With God’s help, the medical team helping your friend can make this journey much better and give them hope and strength. Before any surgery for the cancer cells to be removed, there is fear and uncertainty for the cancer patient and family members. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help them overcome their fear and trust in the Great Physician’s healing power.
- Strength, peace, faith, trust in God, and hope
Going through cancer treatment is one of the most difficult times for cancer patients. The hospital appointments, chemotherapy and its side effects, radiation, and sometimes surgery take a toll on their physical body as well as mental state and emotions. They also experience so much fear and anxious thoughts.
We need to ask the Lord God to help them overcome this and experience peace of mind and sing a song of gratitude for every day that they have on earth.
Hope is the strong conviction and confidence we have that God will do what he said. Cancer patients need support groups around them to be their source of hope in the healing of cancer.
10 Comforting Prayers for a friend with cancer
Use these powerful prayers to pray for your friend to have strong faith and trust in the Lord God in this season.
- Prayer for a Friend with Cancer
Heavenly Father, I come to you today with my friend’s life. Thank you for the wonderful friendship we share. Dear Lord, l place them in your loving arms as they deal with this tough situation. Your word says in Psalm 34:18 NKJV,
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
May your almighty presence remind them that they’re never alone and that you’ll be with them every step of the way. O God, you’re an ever-present help in our time of need. Help them prepare for the journey ahead. May they face it with courage, hope, and faith in the God who sees, hears, and cares.
In the name of Jesus, l pray. Amen.
- Prayer for your friend to accept the cancer diagnosis
Father God, I come to you with a heavy heart. My friend has received heartbreaking news and they’re struggling to accept it. Holy Spirit, be their comforter today and save them from depression.
Dear God, this cancerous disease is not what they planned or expected. They may be experiencing confusion, regret, and fear about the medical treatment. May they surrender it all to you as you guide them.
In Jesus name. Amen.
- Prayer For Your friend’s family members
God of comfort, as my friend is going through this journey surrounded by family members, I pray that you would help them as they support my friend. May they listen to my friend’s needs and encourage my friend in this season. Help them show God’s love, kindness, and compassion to my friend while also being her source of hope. They may be in great need financially, so l pray that they trust in you as the ultimate provider for all their needs.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Healing prayer for a friend with cancer
Jehovah Rapha, you are the Lord who heals with your righteous right hand. I pray for your healing touch over my friend, dear Lord. They are going through so much discomfort and pain, but we pray and believe in You for restoration and the power of Your healing hands. I pray each cancer cell is defeated in the name of Christ Jesus. May their experience good health and lead their normal life again.
I hold onto Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) today which says
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”
By the wounds of Jesus Christ, may my friend experience complete healing. I hold onto the promises of God, the great physician, upon my friend’s life.
Amen.
- Prayer for strength during cancer treatment
Merciful God, this is a tough time for my friend. There are times when they don’t have the energy to do the things they need to. They may feel like giving up on themselves and not fighting to get better. Help them to get rest and recover. Strengthen them with your loving care. Holy Father, your word says that when we are weak, you’re strong. Your grace is sufficient for my friend as they go through this cancer plan.
Amen
- Prayer for the medical professionals treating your friend
Mighty God, we bring the medical team helping my friend and all other cancer patients to you. Give them wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. May God guide them to create a treatment plan that brings good health to my friend. I pray for them to be kind, compassionate, hopeful, and sensitive to the pain my friend is in.
Dear God, as my friend goes in and out of the hospital, bless every person that they’ll interact with on their healing journey and give them all a gentle heart as they help my friend.
In the name of Jesus, l pray. Amen.
- Surgery prayer for a friend with cancer
Gracious God, we know and believe that nothing is impossible with you, even the healing of cancer. We are trusting you for a successful surgery. Let all the cancerous cells be removed from my friend’s physical body. May your almighty presence be in that operating room. I pray for your healing power in my friend’s life. May God’s blessing be on the surgeon’s hands as they operate on my friend.
Heavenly Father, I pray that my friend would have the vision of Jesus and his healing touch, being held in his loving arms as they recover and their health is restored. Protect them from any side effects they may experience, and surround them with your steadfast love.
In the name of Jesus, l pray. Amen.
- Prayer of hope for a friend with cancer
God of hope, we look to you and wait for you trusting and believing that my friend will experience good health again. I put my hope in you because l know you never fail us. As 2 Timothy 2:13 says, you remain faithful even when we are faithless. O Lord, may my friend have the living hope we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our confidence is not entirely in the medical treatment but in God’s love and power.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Prayer for a friend with cancer to have peace
God of mercy, help my friend to have peace of mind during this time. Peace will come as they abide in your word and believe it and not the lies of the enemy. I am grateful that we have them, and each day they get to fight for their life with the holy spirit alongside them.
May they be encouraged to cast all their burdens at the feet of the cross of Christ Jesus. Guide them to pray about everything so that they will experience supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding.
Amen.
- Prayer for faith and trust in God
Dear God, I intercede for my friend as they may doubt that you care for them. May their thoughts be on your steadfast love for them. As the Bible says in Psalm 20:7 (AMP)
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God.
May they trust in the great goodness that you’ve shown them. I pray for them to have strong faith through this cancer journey. Help them to trust in your healing power. Even though the enemy meant harm to them, as he did with Joseph in the Bible use this experience to show them that you will bring something good out of this.
In the name of Jesus l pray. Amen.
Encouraging Bible verses to pray for a friend with cancer
The word of God is one of the most important things to remind cancer patients to hold onto. It gives them hope, strength, comfort, courage and strong faith. Scripture has greater power than our words to remind them of God’s love. Here are a few encouraging verses you can share with them and pray over them as well.
You keep track of all my sorrows
Psalm 56:8 NLT
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
Psalm 27:13 NKJV
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Psalm 6:2 AMP
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.
Fear not, for I am with you;
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
My flesh and my heart fail;
Psalm 73:26 NKJV
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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May these powerful prayers for a friend with a cancer diagnosis help you as you intercede for them on their cancer journey.
You may enjoy this video on Prayer against cancer.
Or one of these recommended resources for you or your friend battling cancer.
31 Days of Prayer Printable Journal by Woman of Noble Character
Praying Through Cancer: A 90-Day Devotional for Women by Susan Sorensen, Laura Geist
One-Minute Prayers for Women with Cancer by Niki Hardy
50 Days of Hope: Daily Inspiration for Your Journey through Cancer by Lynn Eib
If you or a friend have cancer, Stronghold Ministry offers free gift baskets to cancer patients. Reach out to them to get an encouraging basket to help you through tough times.
ESV – “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
NKJV – Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NIV – Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™