10 Hopeful Prayers for Depression

Anxiety and depression are on the rise and prevalent in most people’s lives whether they themselves are suffering or someone they know. Prayer isn’t a Band-Aid for depression, but it is crucial to pray for those suffering from depression!

I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression most of my life. What started as perfectionism eventually turned into anxiety to the point of making me sick, dark weeks and months of depression, and a very low period in college with suicidal thoughts. Since becoming a mother this illness has surfaced as postpartum depression (PPD).

Motherhood didn’t come as easy to me as everyone said it would. The sleepless nights, fear of doing something wrong, intense panic during meltdowns and times of sickness proved to be more than I could handle on my own.

Through all of this, as a woman of faith, I felt like I was doing something wrong. I heard things like, just pray and you’ll be fine, but that wasn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong, the Lord showed up. He was walking with me, holding me, and supporting me when I felt like I couldn’t get out of bed.

The Scriptures have been crucial to helping me through periods of depression. One of my favorite passages to pray is a psalm of David, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4, NIV).

This passage was both comforting and confusing. If the Lord is my shepherd then I don’t need anything else. If He brings peace and refreshes my soul then why do I still feel so empty, and lonely? However, the rest of the passage goes on to say that even when we are in our most desolate moments the Lord is there with us, comforting and protecting us.

Depression is a complex illness so it’s important to stay steadfast in faith, even on your darkest days. I have given you 10 prayers for depression, but feel free to customize them to your specific situation. Please leave your prayer requests in the comments so we can pray with you!

Short Prayer for Depression

My God, I know that I am slipping into a depression. I have no desire to do the things that used to bring me joy. Everything feels so hard and I can barely keep up with my basic care. I feel drained and exhausted all the time.

You are the only one who can truly fill me. For now, I just ask that You give me the strength to keep getting out of bed each day. I can’t conquer this illness alone. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for a Friend Who is Depressed

Lord, (name) is depressed. (He/She) is in denial. (Name) thinks (he/she) is just in a funk, and it’ll get better. It will get better, but things are getting bad for (him/her). He’s not getting out of bed. He hasn’t showered in days and is barely responding to any messages.

(He/She) is skipping (work/school) and I am just getting so worried. You are the ultimate healer. You heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. (Name) really needs to be healed emotionally and spiritually. Help (him/her) to desire to be healed and ask for Your help.

I know (his/her) prayer life is lacking as well. I know (he/she) is struggling with motivation, but please just give (him/her) the desire to spend time with You, even if it is just a quick prayer or two. (He/She) needs to make some concrete changes, but none of that will matter if (he/she) is not fostering (his/her) relationship with you. (Name) needs to remember (he/she) is a child of God.

Help (him/her) to know how loved they are by You. Show them they are beloved and worthy. May these words from Scripture be on their lips, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7, NIV).

Please give (name) the motivation to start making concrete changes in (his/her) life to help get out of the depression. Prayer, medication, therapy, and organization are all things that I think would help (name).

Help me to be what (name) needs. Help me to be supportive and have the right words to say to (him/her) to encourage (him/her). Give me the wisdom to give (name) what (he/she) needs right now.

Prayer for Depression and Hopelessness

Lord, I’ve been depressed for months now. It’s starting to feel like I’m always going to feel this way. I don’t know how to possibly feel better. I am full of deep dark feelings. Some days I can fake happiness. I even have moments where I can pretend so well it almost feels real.

But when it’s just me, in the silence, I know I’m not feeling how I should. I can’t be the person you created me to be while fighting this depression. It’s just so exhausting. Give me the strength to keep fighting when all I feel is hopeless. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go, (Joshua 1:9, NIV).

I must always have hope when I have You. May these words from Scripture be always on my lips, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).

You have overcome the world. Jesus died and rose again. There is nothing, but hope when it comes to You. The impossible is always possible. I know someday I will have peace and joy again. Give me the strength to get to that day. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

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Prayer for Depression and Anxiety

God, my head is spinning. My body is aching and tired. I feel like I’ve just run a marathon when all I’ve done is spiraled into a ball of anxiety. For some reason, my mind just jumps from one problem to 100 different things that aren’t problems.

Why am I worried about something that might happen? Why am I worried about things that are years down the road? Please Lord, help me to only focus on You and Your path for me. Don’t let me be side tracked by unnecessary anxieties.

Honestly, it’s hard to pray. It’s hard to stay close to You when sitting in silence just spirals my thoughts even further. Help me to quiet my thoughts. Help me to be still. You are my peace. You are my strength and my song. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Depression After Loss

Holy God, I have lost someone so dear and important to me. I’m sad and angry. I don’t understand why you let bad things happen to good people. I know it’s not fair for me to be mad at You, but I just need you to know how I really feel.

I miss (name) so badly. Every part of me aches to be with (him/her). All I want to do is crawl under the covers and cry. I’m losing my purpose. I need your help to keep going because I don’t know how to do it on my own. I’m so broken Lord. Please put the pieces of my heart back together.

I know that this loss has sent me into a depression. I’m working with a therapist and am considering medication. Please give me the wisdom to know whether or not this is the right decision for me. I think it will help me feel better, but I get nervous about putting so many things in my body.

Lord please carry me. I’m so weak and lifeless since (name) died. I feel like a ghost of myself. I go through the motions, but I don’t feel alive. I have responsibilities to keep attending to, but I just feel like I can’t. It’s so hard to get out of bed or take a shower let alone do chores or go to work.

I know that it was Your will for (name) to die, but I really don’t understand it. Please Lord, just give me the joy that I used to have. I know I will never be exactly the same, but I want to look forward to things again. I don’t want to cry every day and feel helpless. Please help me to get through this depression.

If anyone can help me. It’s You…and my therapist. Thank you Lord. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Discouragement and Depression

Lord, I’m so discouraged. This depression is eating me alive. I’m pretending to be someone I’m not just to make it through the day. I’m trying to move forward, to address my triggers, but every time I make an improvement I feel like I’m taking two steps back.

I’m so frustrated and discouraged that I can’t just be normal like everyone else. Please help me to remember these words from Scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

I know I can conquer this mental illness with Your help. Things might not be better forever, but I know that I can get to a good place. Right now, I feel like I’m just surviving each day. I don’t want to just survive anymore. I want to thrive. ^“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phillippians 4:13, NIV). In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Treating Depression

Lord, I need help with treating my depression. I’m working with a therapist and am considering medication. Please give me the wisdom to know whether or not this is the right decision for me. I think it will help me feel better, but I get nervous about putting so many things in my body.

I’m not sure my therapist is the right fit for me either. I’m not making the progress I want to be making. I think I need someone new, but also don’t want to tell someone new my entire life story. Gosh, I hate how these small things give me such debilitating anxiety.

Something as small as just thinking about getting a new therapist has me hiding under the covers. I’m scared to find someone else and it be a worse fit than what I already have. If you want me to find a different therapist then please put them on my path.

Please give me your peace as I seek treatment for this mental illness. I cannot do this alone. I need to conquer my stressors and triggers. Give me the motivation and focus I need to keep making progress. Please don’t let me slip back into the pit of despair. I need you, o so much, o Lord. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Post Partum Depression

God, sleep. I need sleep. I’m an emotional wreck. I’m almost always on the brink of an emotional breakdown. I can barely keep my eyes open. The lack of sleep is just hitting me like a train. How does anyone deal with this?

I feel so terrible for thinking this, but right now, I am not a fan of motherhood. I feel like I’m falling into a pit of despair when I’m supposed to be happy. I don’t understand why I feel this way when I should be thrilled that I have a sweet baby to snuggle.

So many women struggle with infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss. They would love to be complaining about sleepless nights. I feel selfish and inconsiderate for complaining about something that really is a privilege.

It’s a privilege to get up and (nurse/feed) my baby. It’s a privilege to rock them to sleep, to comfort them when they’re sick, to carry them around all day. I know it’s a privilege. I know it’s a great gift from You to have this amazing child, but it is so unbelievably hard.

Please help me to overcome this. I need your help to be the mother you want me to be. In your Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Supporting a Parent With Depression

God, my (mom/dad) is struggling with depression. It’s hard for me to deal with because it requires a lot of attention from me. I’m just a kid and I feel like I have to be the parent in this situation. It’s overwhelming and honestly, it just feels not fair that I have to deal with all this. I need your guidance and strength.

Why do I have to be the person who makes sure my (dad/mom) gets out of bed every day? Why do I have to constantly check in with them to make sure (he/she) is taking their meds? I know this is just a cross to bear, that I shouldn’t complain, but who else can I tell if I can’t tell you Lord?

There is just so much responsibility when my (dad/mom) spirals into the dark holes of depression. Help me to remember that this is an illness just like any physical illness. Help me to be selfless and serve my (dad/mom) when they go into one of their depressive states.

Please assist the doctor who is working with my (dad/mom). Help them to know the right medications and proper dosage so they keep their mental illness under control.

If (dad/mom) goes into a deep depression again please be with me and act through me so I can give (her/him) the proper care. I love my (dad/mom) so much. I just want them to be safe, happy, and healthy. You are the ultimate protector so I trust in You. In Your name, I pray. Amen

Prayer for Supporting a Spouse With Depression

Lord, my spouse is struggling with depression. I come to you humbly and somewhat of a wreck. It’s so challenging for me to watch (name) go through this pit of despair. I’m scared to say the wrong thing and send (name) into a deeper depression.

(Name) has struggled with this for years and on (his/her) darkest days it sends me into a panic. It’s hard to stay calm when the person you know the person you love has struggled with suicidal thoughts before.  That part of (his/her) life is gone, but I know it could come back at any time.

(Name) is the love of my life and I don’t want to live a life without her. She is my person, a beautiful woman of faith who leads me closer to you. I want to live out all of my days with her and I’m scared depression could rob us of that.

I feel selfish about these requests because I’m not even the one going through the depression. Please heal her of this mental illness. Please do it quickly.

Help me to confidently put my trust in you. Wrap your loving arms around (name) as (he/she) battles this mental illness. Help her to feel safe and loved by You during difficult times.

Help me to be what (name) needs during this time. Help me to be supportive and have the right words to say to her to encourage her. May I be strong when she is weak. Thank you for this opportunity to live out my vows of in sickness and in health. I strive to love like You, sacrificially.

I know (name) didn’t choose this illness. Please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, NIV). Help my wife to be comforted by these words, to know that even Jesus did things He didn’t want to do.

It’s easy for Christians to feel like they aren’t allowed to be worried because they just have to trust in God. I don’t want her worry to overtake her, but I want her to know it’s okay to tell God that she doesn’t want this. She can be honest with you. I know it will lighten her load if she can be honest with you.

Please guide (name’s) doctors and therapist as they work to help (him/her). May (his/her) doctor adjust (his/her) medications so that we avoid these dark and scary periods. Give (name’s) therapist the words to encourage (him/her). Help the therapist to work through (name’s) triggers and come up with successful coping mechanisms.

Ultimately, I pray this depression is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. We have many family members who have fallen away from the faith and I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and our hope in You and Your will through all of this.

I surrender my feelings of anxiety and fear and ask that you replace them with hope and joy. It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

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Concluding Thoughts

I hope this reminds you that you are not broken if you are suffering from mental illness. You are not alone and most importantly Jesus knows about mental suffering. He wasn’t depressed, but he had to battle negative thoughts and temptations just as we all do.

May all those suffering from mental illness know that the Lord is with them through their suffering. Please know that all will be well even if it doesn’t seem like it now. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV).