How to Pray for Someone in Recovery

When someone you care about is going through recovery from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you want to do everything you can to help them. While you can be there for them emotionally and physically, praying for them is a powerful way to support them. There are some key points to remember when you want to know how to pray for someone in recovery.

Find Strength in Your Helplessness

You may feel helpless as you watch your loved one go through addiction treatment. You want to do what you can to help them, but you may not be sure what that should be. Your helplessness can actually be one of the keys for how to pray for someone in recovery. People tend to want to tell God what needs to be done and when. Instead, remain silent in your helplessness and put your trust in God as you pray. You can’t fix everything, but you know you can trust in God.

Focus on Trust

Your loved one is learning how to trust a higher power in recovery. As you pray for them, do the same for yourself. Recovery happens with God’s help. You can also pray for the addiction treatment professionals who are guiding your loved one through their recovery. At the same time, trust that those professionals will do what’s right to help your loved one overcome their addiction in a healthy and successful way.

Let Your Loved One Know

Sometimes, just knowing that someone is praying for you can be powerful in itself. Send your loved one a written note letting them know you are praying for them in recovery. By doing so, you’re acknowledging the powerful force of God. You’re also encouraging them to put their trust in God and to continue praying for help themselves as they go through their addiction treatment program. Re-embrace hope through prayer for yourself and for your loved one.

Healing in Prayer

It can be helpful to remember scripture passages as you pray for someone in recovery. In particular, James says:

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven” (James 5:13-15).

Praying in faith is reassuring to you and your loved one. You know that when you put your faith and trust in God, you are responding to the promises in his word. You know that your prayers are heard.

It can also be helpful to ask others around you, the “elders of the church” as well as friends and family, members to pray for your loved one in recovery. Encourage them to also send positive notes, letting your loved one know they are in their prayers.

A Prayer of Power

Even though you may feel powerless, you know that God is powerful and capable of providing the help your loved one needs in recovery from their addiction. In prayer, you are bringing your loved one before God and asking for the power of a healing touch. You are also being appreciative for the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal healing for yourself as well as for your loved one.

A Prayer of Strength

When you feel helpless, watching your loved one struggle with addiction and the challenges of recovery, remember where your strength lies. As the scripture in Psalms reminds us:

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:1-4).

As you pray for someone in recovery, take comfort in God’s strength, that even though you and your loved one may be overcome by sadness and fear, God does not sleep and is always there with the strength you both need.

California Faith-Based Drug Addiction Treatment

To get help overcoming drug addiction, please contact Celebrate Hope to learn more about our faith-based addiction treatment program. Our team helps men and women break the cycle of addiction and begin anew. We rely on the teachings of Jesus Christ, along with evidence-based therapies to get individuals on the path of recovery.