When you have a sick brother or sister, you may not even know where to begin with healing prayers. We’ve put together a list and have included prayers from many different faith groups.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Prayers for a Sibling Who’s Seriously Ill
- Prayers for a Sibling Who Has a Mild Illness
- Prayers for a Sick Sibling-in-Law
- Prayers for a Terminally Ill Sibling
Offering to pray for someone who is sick is a wonderful way to comfort someone. Make sure you follow through with your promise. If you can’t find your own words and don’t know what to say, consider using one of the following texts as a prayer for a sick sibling.
Prayers for a Sibling Who’s Seriously Ill
What do you say when you pray for a sibling who is seriously ill? It depends on the situation.
You may pray that your sibling receives a diagnosis. You may pray that your sibling tolerates the chemotherapy or radiation and that treatment is effective. You may ask that God be with the doctors and nurses providing care. Finally, you can also request that God heal your sibling of all illnesses.
Besides praying for your sibling, you may also consider giving a gift appropriate for someone who is bedridden.
1. “A Prayer for Healing Sick Family and Friends” for Christians
Those who believe in God know that great things can be done in his name. Even if a full recovery would seem nothing short of miraculous, consider asking this for your sibling.
2. “A Prayer for Healing and Grace” for Christians
Beginning prayer warriors may find comfort in prayers that are written in modern English. Even if the prayers of your youth were full of “thous” and “thees,” you can find prayers online that are written just as you would speak.
For example, this prayer includes these lines: “Forgive us for trying to fix our situations all on our own. Forgive us for running all different directions and spinning our wheels to find help, when true help and healing must be found first in you.”
3. “A Prayer for Healing a Loved One” for Christians
This prayer acknowledges that recovery is merely a temporary reprieve from death. If you are concerned about your sibling’s relationship with God, consider adding that to your prayer.
4. “Prayer for the Sick” for Christians
You may be looking for a prayer to say in the presence of your ailing sibling. If so, this prayer asks for the healing power of Christ to breathe into your brother or sister.
5. “Prayer for Spiritual Healing” for Christians
Your sibling may not suffer from an illness of the body. Maybe your brother or sister is hurting mentally or emotionally instead. Consider looking for prayers for spiritual healing if this is the case.
6. “Refuah Shlema” for Jews
This prayer asks for the healing of both the body and the spirit.
7. “Mi Shebeirach” for Jews
This prayer for healing is usually said in the synagogue. It asks the almighty to “bless those in need of healing.”
8. “Healing Chant to Medicine Buddha” for Buddhists
Buddhists perform chants to Medicine Buddha, asking for healing. There are many of these chants available online.
9. “Healing Mantras” for Hindus
While you may be looking for a mantra to say on behalf of your sibling, you may consider teaching a mantra to your brother or sister. Hindus believe that sound can restore harmony to the body. Different mantras are used depending upon where the illness resides.
10. “Native American Prayer for Healing”
Even though Native Americans do not share a common religious belief, you may be interested in reading the text of a Native American prayer for healing. This prayer asks “Mother” to bring wholeness again to the ailing person.
Prayers for a Sibling Who Has a Mild Illness
Instead of turning to prayer when tragedy strikes, you may ask God to assist siblings with mild illnesses as well. You may also ask God to bless the relationship that you have with your siblings.
Here are some prayers that ask God to look after your siblings, no matter the situation.
11. “Prayer for My Sister” for Christians
The text of this prayer thanks God for the gift of sisters. It asks for God’s blessings upon your treasured siblings.
12. “Prayer for COVID-19” for Christians
Does one of your siblings have the coronavirus? Or maybe your brother or sister is full of anxiety regarding the pandemic. This prayer asks God to take away the feelings of fear and anxiety felt across the world.
13. “Prayer of Protection for My Brother” for Christians
This prayer asks that God put a “protective seal” over your brother’s life. It asks that God looks after your brother’s mind, body, and heart.
14. Numbers 6:24-26 for Christians
This well-loved verse is appropriate for almost every occasion and can easily be used as a prayer. It states: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
15. “Jewish Prayer for Family and Friends”
Are you appreciative of your siblings? This Jewish prayer states, “Help me to express my gratitude and appreciation to them for all they have done and are continuing to do.” Even though this prayer is not specific to brothers and sisters, it covers all the meaningful relationships of your life.
16. “Duas Forgiveness for Your Siblings” for followers of Islam
Do you need to seek forgiveness for yourself and your brother? This duas states, “O my Lord! Forgive me and my brother, and make us enter into your mercy, for you are the most merciful of those who show mercy.”
17. Cherokee Prayer
The word “brothers” in this prayer probably refers to “humankind,” but the text of this prayer is still beautiful and deserves mention on the list. It states: “Oh, great spirit who made all races. Look kindly upon the whole human family and take away the arrogance and hatred which separates us from our brothers.”
18. “Prayer for the Family” for Catholics
This prayer calls for the help of the saints to keep your family members safe from illness and misfortunes. It also states: “Finally give unto all of us the grace to live in perfect harmony and in the fullness of love toward our neighbor.”
19. “Prayer for Family Unity” for Catholics
Sometimes prayer is needed to heal the hearts of siblings or to mend broken relationships. This prayer focuses on improving the unity of the family. It states: “Dear Lord, let us not hold on to anger in our hearts, for it will lead to resentment, bitterness and even hatred. Teach us, father, how to solve our conflicts openly, honestly and promptly.”
20. “You are the Only Source of Health and Healing” for Christians
This prayer continues with the following line: “In you there is calm, and the only true peace in the universe.” Use this prayer for a wide variety of occasions, but it can be specifically used when your brother or sister is suffering from a mild sickness.
Prayers for a Sick Sibling-in-Law
Of course, all the prayers previously listed would be appropriate for your siblings that married into the family. Here are some additional prayers to consider for an in-law who might be struggling with health concerns.
21. “Widen My Vision” for Christians
Helen Steiner Rice wrote this poem/prayer. Even though the text doesn’t specifically mention a sick sibling-in-law, it does ask God to make us aware of all the gifts we have in our midst.
22. “On the Wings of Prayer” for Christians
Helen Steiner Rice also wrote this poem/prayer. It begins,
“Just close your eyes and open your heart
And feel your worries and cares depart,
Just yield yourself to the Father above
And let Him hold you secure in His love.”
Encourage your sick sibling-in-law to visualize their cares being lifted away “on the wings of prayer.”
23. “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” for Christians
We know that we won’t escape this life free from trouble or pain, but this poem asks for strength from God as we travel down life’s darkest highways.
It begins,
“I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be a pleasant road;
I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me aught of its load.”
24. “My Prayer” for Christians
This poem was published in the late 1960s and begins,
“Blessed Lord Jesus, Thou alone canst pour healing balm into my sore and wounded heart. Only Thy love has preserved in me the faith which alone comforts and sustains me in my dark hours.”
The prayer continues by asking God for courage and strength for those “whose hearts are heavy.”
25. “Lord, Be My Guide” for Christians
In this poem/prayer, the speaker admits that they cannot bear the pain of life by themselves. One section of the prayer reads,
“I cannot walk a single day
The paths that mark life’s rugged way;
Nor can I rest secure from fear
Unless I feel Thy presence near.
Uphold me with Thine outstretched arm
And shield me ever from alarm.”
Share this poem/prayer with your sick sibling-in-law so they understand that they aren’t alone.
26. “A Prayer for Healing” for Christians
There are hundreds of prayers called “A Prayer for Healing,” but this one begins,
“Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow Your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise.”
27. “Safe in His Care” for Christians
Roxie Lusk Smith wrote this poem/prayer. It includes this stanza:
“Take away my pain and sorrow,
Let me feel Thy presence near;
Help me walk in sweet progression,
Attended by Thy force.”
28. “Prayer for Family” for Christians
Reverend R.H. Raasch wrote this prayer. It would be appropriate to share with a family member who is struggling. It reads in part, “Bless our relationships that we may serve You here in our home and when we go into Your world.”
Prayers for a Terminally Ill Sibling
Watching a sibling face a terminal illness is hard on the entire family. So here are some poems for you, your siblings, and your parents as you face this difficult time together.
29. Psalm 23 for Christians
One of the most quoted passages of the Old Testament, the 23rd Psalm, has provided comfort for many generations of believers. It begins,
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”
30. “It Is Not Death to Die” for Christians
This poem/prayer speaks about the promises of eternal life for believers. It ends,
“Jesus, Thou Prince of Life,
Thy chosen cannot die;
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife
To reign with Thee on high.”
31. “The Lord’s Prayer” for Christians
The words of the Lord’s Prayer are suitable for any situation.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
32. Ecclesiastes 3 for Christians
This passage can be used as a prayer or as a meditation for someone who is terminally ill. It is often read at Christian funerals. It begins,
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.”
33. “Touch of Strength” for Christians
Elizabeth Victoria Henson wrote this short poem. It includes the following sections:
“Lord, Your love fell so gently on my troubled heart until it formed an armor of strength about me that would protect me in the rough times to come. Thank you, Lord, for being my strength in a time of weakness and despair.”
34. “Dear Father of Comfort” for Christians
Even though the title of this poem makes it sound as if you are only asking for comfort, the text goes much deeper than that. One section reads,
“Guide also, dear Lord, my response to this pain in regards to others. Let my witness to shine as to be a light into Your righteousness. Work in me that I might glorify you in all that I say and do, dear God.”
35. “Prayer in Time of Suffering” for Christians
While some prayers ask for healing, this prayer also requests God’s support through the dying process. It includes the following lines:
“O Divine King, Jesus, whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted, I wish to live in You; suffer and die in You During my life to me my model and my support; At the hour of my death, be my hope and my refuge.”
Other Ways to Help Your Sibling Who is Ill
Praying for your sick sibling is a lovely way to show that you care, but there are other things you can do for a brother or sister who is under the weather. Drop by with some chicken noodle soup or other comfort food made using your Grandma’s recipe. Ask if there are any errands that you can run for your sibling. You can also volunteer to run interference to protect your sibling from an overzealous mother, whose presence may be more overwhelming than helpful.
If your sibling is bedridden with a serious illness, sit at his or her bedside. Play your sister’s favorite music while putting lotion on her back. Listen to your brother as he tells stories of his football glory days for the thousandth time.
Sibling relationships are so very important. Care and treasure those relationships because they will be important people to you for the rest of your life.
If you're looking for more ways to support your sick sibling, read our guides to the best get well gifts and the best post-surgery care packages to send.