A Prayer for Peace in the Midst of Health Concerns
By Kristine Brown
Bible Reading:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7 NLT.
Listen or Read Below:
After returning from a fun, activity-filled family vacation, a nagging pain persisted, warranting a visit to the doctor’s office. I’d been cancer-free for years, so the thought never crossed my mind that this could be something serious. I had settled into a place of complacency where my health was concerned, living my life with a hopeful outlook. But here I was, blindsided by the doctor’s evaluation. I was not at all prepared to hear the word “cancer” again.
Suddenly, I felt a familiar level of worry and angst surface because of these health concerns I now faced. And since I’d been through this battle with worry before, I knew I needed God’s perfect peace to make it through.
Health concerns can strip away our daily peace, leaving us vulnerable to things like worry, stress, and anxiety. So many decisions must be made, like which treatment is the best, how we will manage things, how the diagnosis will affect our finances, and more. Our thoughts can get paralyzed by the seriousness of our circumstances as we fear the outcome of making the wrong choice, not to mention the unknowns ahead and how they will impact our lives and our family.
Thankfully, God’s Word gives us the antidote for the worry and anxiety that arise amid health concerns.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he encouraged his fellow believers in Christ to keep their minds focused on good things. I think we can all agree that’s easier said than done, especially when facing a devastating diagnosis or dealing with chronic illness. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver for someone with a health struggle, you understand how the mind can get overwhelmed by the difficulties each day brings. But Paul explained exactly what we must do to keep our minds and hearts focused on God’s goodness, even on the hardest days.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Recently, I experienced a setback in my current health struggle. As I lay in the hospital bed, discouragement grew. I picked up my phone—more out of habit than interest—and checked my messages. A friend had sent me an encouraging email with this Scripture passage from Philippians. I recognized the verses because I’d turned to them in times of worry. But my friend quoted a different translation than what I had read before. I sensed a renewed peace come over me as I let the passage soothe my aching heart and mind. The peace of Jesus is powerful and effective. It is beyond our comprehension and available to us at every moment. I needed that reminder from my friend. Jesus freely offers his peace to his people; all we need to do is ask.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a health concern, I pray today’s Scripture will refresh your soul with Jesus’ gift of perfect peace. Let’s follow Paul’s instruction and ask God for more peace as we trust him with our health concerns. Let that peace we long for guard our hearts and minds.
Let’s Pray:
Dear God, Thank you for hearing my prayer today. I am overwhelmed with health concerns and need your help. I turn my eyes toward you, knowing you are here with me. Draw near to me, Lord, as I draw near to you. (James 4:8) I need a fresh filling of your peace to settle my heart and mind as I face many unknowns. Lately, I have sensed worry and anxiety rising inside me and consuming my thoughts. There are so many decisions to make, and it’s difficult to keep my focus on your good things while enduring the physical and emotional pain of this journey. Jesus, you offer the peace that surpasses all understanding. It is your gift to those who believe in you. Thank you for the precious gift of your perfect peace that overcomes any worry that threatens me. Help me follow the instructions in your Word that tell me to bring my requests to you with thanksgiving. Thank you for your promise to fill me with peace that will guard my heart and mind. Knowing you are good and faithful, I trust you with my health concerns. Thank you for being Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is my peace. In your name I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/gorodenkoff
Praying through Psalm 15: A Prayer to the One Who Will Never Be Shaken
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Originally published Friday, 30 May 2025.
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