PSALMS FOR SICKNESS
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
There are times when prayer can fill our hearts with joy. But there may also be times when prayer becomes difficult. Illness is one time when words become difficult because our minds are filled with fear. When our hearts are at a loss for words, the psalms will speak for us.
Psalm 34:17-19: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
Psalm 56:3,4: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.”
Psalm 57:1: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
Psalm 88:1-3: “Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.”
Psalm 142:1-3,5,6: “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. . . . When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. I cry to you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’ Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need.”
When we are hurting and God seems far away, remember that he sees us in our suffering and he knows our pain. He listens to our cries and promises to respond to our prayers.
Look in the book of Psalms for other prayers to use during times of illness.
From The Gift of Prayer