10 Powerful Prayers for Everyone Affected by the COVID-19 Crisis

Beth Ann Baus

COVID-19 is doing more than threatening our physical health, for many, it’s affecting their mental and emotional health as well.

The coming months will likely be full of disappointment, sacrifice, and mourning. But, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can also look to the months ahead and anticipate joy, personal growth, and new opportunities to live out our faith.

With that being said, the best thing we can do right now is pray. 

Below are 10 prayers for those affected by COVID-19 (which is all of us!). Use these prayers as a guide to pray for yourself, but don’t forget that being others-focused is a constant theme throughout scripture, and should be a constant theme in the lives of all Christ-followers.

Please let these prayers be a reminder of what others are going through during this time. Let’s take each other’s burdens before the throne of God! 

For all of us affected by COVID-19, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) 

1. For the Isolated

Father God,
     I have never felt so alone. I could never have imagined facing something like this on my own and I’m afraid. Please remind me that you are with me. Allow me to feel your presence. Remind me that, as your child, you have not given me a spirit of fear. Remind me that I can trust you with whatever may come. Lord, this isolation is overwhelming. I know I could pick up the phone and call someone, but I don’t want to be a burden. Please help me to have concern for others above myself. I know I’m not the only one feeling lonely, give me the courage to reach out and offer encouragement to others.

2. For Those Asking, “God Are You there?”

God,
     I’ve never really talked to you before. Are you really there? Can you really hear me?  I know people who claim to know you and they don’t seem as afraid as I do. I don’t want to be so afraid. If I knew that you were real, I would want to trust in you. Would you help me to believe? If you’re real, would you open my eyes and heart to you? Would you give me faith to believe in you and trust you? While I’m stuck at home, would you please guide me to online sources where I can learn more about you. I want to know you’re real and I want to know the comfort that you give to your people.

3. For Those Infected

Father God,
     I never imagined that I would get this virus. I trust you, but I confess I’m afraid of the unknown. I don’t know how bad my symptoms will get, and I hate knowing I might have infected other people before I knew I was sick. You are the Great Physician, and so I pray for healing. I pray I don’t end up in the hospital and I pray that I didn’t spread this to other people. Give me courage to face the day. Give me the self-discipline to rest and take care of my body while I’m recovering. Help me to praise you, even in this storm. Help me to glorify you with my attitude even in this trial. Help me to spread hope, not fear. Remind me that while I don’t know what my future holds, I know who holds my future.

4. For the Frustrated

Lord,
     I am so frustrated. I want to make sure I have what my family needs during this time. I see people not taking this pandemic seriously, and I see other people hoarding supplies so that others can’t get what they need. Help me with my attitude towards these people. Help me to hold my tongue on social media, to be a light and an encourager, not a sharp-tongued slanderer. Remind me that we all want to keep our families safe, and we all react differently to fear. Remind me to pray for those who are causing frustration, not to be angry with them. Help me to be an example by following the guidelines set forth by our authorities, and also by putting the needs of others before my own by offering to help my neighbors if they are in need. 

5.  For Those Who Live in Fear

Father God,
      I don’t even have words for what I’m feeling. My stomach is tied up in knots, my thoughts are skipping so fast I can’t keep up. I’m exhausted but I can’t rest. My dreams at night are as stressful as my thoughts during the day. Excessive hand-washing has left my skin raw. Social distancing has left me feeling more alone than ever. I could call a friend, but I’m afraid they won’t understand. I need help. Please help me to calm down. Help me to stay focused on You. Help me to not be afraid. I feel paralyzed. Please take this feeling from me and give me courage, strength, and an unwavering trust in You. 

6. For the Parent

Lord,
     I admit I fear the unknown. I fear how others will act during this time of uncertainty, how long this will last, and not knowing what the world will look like for my children when this is over. Father, calm my heart. Help me to trust you. Please keep my children safe from this virus. Please allow me to stay healthy so that I can take care of them. Help me to rest at night, so that I have energy and clarity of mind. Keep me focused on you, so that I can fill my children with encouragement and not panic. Help us to not grow weary of one another while we’re home together for who knows how long. Show me how to make the most of this time and disciple my children with a new urgency.

7. For the Newly Unemployed

Father God,
     You are our provider. Everything we have comes from You. But right now I feel like everything is being taken from me. I’ve been laid off from work, and if I can’t make money, how will we pay our bills? How will I feed my family? I’m usually the strong one, but even I feel anxiety now. Please be with us. Please help me to point my family to you, even though I feel so lost and confused. Help me to demonstrate trust in you to my family. Give me the discipline to lead my family in worship since we can’t gather with our church family. Give me peace. Use this time to help us learn new things about each other, about ourselves, and about you. I trust you. Help me to demonstrate that to my family so that they feel safe during this crazy time.

8. For the Business Owners

Lord,
     My business was booming just a week ago, and now there are no customers walking through the door. I’m feeling the weight of having to make decisions that will affect my employees. I may have to lay off some of my workers. They all have families and bills to pay. I feel so helpless. Please give me wisdom as I make these tough decisions. Please give me compassion as I have these tough conversations with my employees. Help me to be an example to them, to show them that I trust you to provide for us even in these dark times. I don’t know what that will look like, but I believe it to be true. Father, give us courage as we face uncertainties and above all, I pray I glorify you in my response to this crisis. 

9. For our Healthcare Workers

Father,
     I’m exhausted. There are so many people relying on me, and I’m not sure I can be stretched any thinner. I honestly didn’t know I could keep going on such little sleep, so I give you praise for keeping me going! Please, Lord, keep me safe. Keep me healthy so that I can continue caring for the sick. I ask that you protect all the healthcare workers. We need them to be healthy and available. I know that you are the great physician. You are the healer.   I ask that you would put your healing hand on our patients. I ask that you would work through us to give them the best care possible. Give us strength when we are weak, endurance to push through the long hours, and tongues that offer hope and compassion to these people who are sick and scared. Some of our patients won’t survive this virus. Lord, don’t let us become numb. Allow us to mourn with those who mourn, but also give us the strength to keep going, to keep working. Give us opportunities to share the hope that is found in you. Help us not to be afraid. Remind us to praise you in this storm

10. For Our Church Leaders

Father God,
     This virus is presenting new challenges every day. The emotions and attitudes of those in our church family are varied. Some are more afraid than others, some are more prone to anxiety than others, some run towards danger with no thought of the consequences. Lord, as a church leader, give me wisdom as I talk with and encourage your people. Give me the clarity to see the needs of the people. Please allow your Spirit to guide me and to speak through me as I offer hope and point them to you. Show me ways to keep our body connected during this time of social distancing. I praise you that we live in a time with technology that allows us to stay connected, yet I know many of our members still feel isolated and alone. Lord, give us eyes to see the needs. I ask that you equip your people to offer hope during this time, not panic. I pray that you would use your church to advance your kingdom, to be examples of your great love and to be ready to offer an explanation for the hope we have in you. 

Father God, there are so many people to pray for during this time. So many needs, so many requests. This can seem so overwhelming to us as your church. Remind us that you can hear all the prayers, you can see all the needs, and you are a provider. Lord, as we face these uncertain times, may you use this time to grow us in our faith and understanding of you. May you use this time to remind us of our mortality and of eternity. Life is short. Remind us that we should live our lives ready to meet you at our appointed time and while we fear the unknown, we have assurance of salvation. We praise you, Lord, for Your goodness, your mercy, and your love. We know the COVID-19 outbreak did not surprise you. We know you are sovereign, even over this. Let that truth give us comfort, and may you give us opportunities to share that comfort with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Tam Wai

Beth Ann Baus is a wife and homeschooling mom of two boys. She is a freelance writer and author of novels, Sister Sunday and My So Much More. In her writing, Beth often pulls from her own experiences of abuse, anxiety, depression and OCD. Beth has a heart for women’s ministry and is in the process of becoming a certified Biblical Counselor. She loves serving alongside her husband and pointing couples to the Word for strengthening their marriages and home life. You can find more from her at www.bethannbaus.com.

Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:

The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)

A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.

. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).

B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.

. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

. . . “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).

. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).

. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).

. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).

. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).

. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).

. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).

. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).

True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:

 Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.