A Prayer for Someone Having Surgery — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 191 / 253

Healing

A Prayer for Someone Having Surgery

Psalm 41:3

Psalm 41:3 is from a psalm of David, who prayed it while he was sick and his enemies were asking when he would die; it trusts that the LORD sustains and restores the one lying on a sickbed.

Lord, I lift up my loved one as they go into surgery. Sustain them on their bed of illness. Give the surgeons, nurses and the whole care team steady hands, clear minds and wisdom. Calm every fear, theirs and ours. Be near them while they sleep and when they wake. Restore them from their bed of sickness, Lord, and hold all of us in Your peace. Amen.

Psalm 41:3 is from a psalm of David, who prayed it while he was sick and his enemies were asking when he would die; it trusts that the LORD sustains and restores the one lying on a sickbed.

The Scripture

“The LORD will sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.”

— Psalm 41:3

Prayer points from Psalm 41:3

  1. Pray for your loved one by name and for the surgery ahead.
  2. Ask God to give the surgeons, nurses and care team skill, focus and wisdom.
  3. Ask the LORD to sustain them on their bed of illness.
  4. Pray for calm for them and for everyone waiting.
  5. Ask Him to restore them and to guide their recovery.
  6. Thank God for the care they are receiving.

About this verse

Psalm 41 begins with a blessing on “the one who cares for the poor,” and then says what the LORD will do for him: protect him, preserve him, and in sickness “sustain him on his bed of illness and restore him from his bed of sickness.” The rest of the psalm shows David himself on that bed. He asks God to heal him while enemies ask, “When will he die and be forgotten?” and even a close friend turns against him. The verse does not say that sickness never comes to those who love God. It says that on the sickbed they are not alone: the LORD Himself holds them up. That makes it a fitting prayer for someone going into surgery. We are grateful for the doctors and nurses God has given, and we also ask Him to sustain the one we love before, during and after the operation. This prayer is for a family member or friend praying for someone having surgery.

When to pray this prayer

More prayers for healing

Did this help you pray today?

Stay a little longer with Scripture

Watch the Bible word for word, or rest with a painting of Jesus, piece by piece.

Bible Movies app iconBible MoviesWhole Bible chapters as films, word for word→ Bible Jigsaw app iconBible JigsawPaintings of Jesus to piece together, each with a verse→

No app? Watch a chapter here · Play a jigsaw here

More prayers for Healing → The whole prayer library

✶ · Our Bible Moments