When someone you love is depressed, you can feel helpless. You can’t fix it, you can’t talk them out of it, and sometimes they don’t even want to talk at all. But there is one thing you can always do, even from far away and even when they won’t answer the phone: you can pray for them.
These prayers for someone with depression are for a spouse, a child, a parent or a friend who is struggling. Start with the one-minute prayer, then pray the ones that fit. Each comes with an NIV verse you can hold on to, or quietly send to them when the moment is right.
Praying for them right now? A 1-minute prayer
Lord, You see my loved one in a darkness I can’t fully understand. Be close to them right now. Hold them when they feel numb, give them the strength for the next small thing and keep them safe. Show me how to love them well today, without pushing and without giving up. Amen.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
8 prayers for someone with depression
1. A prayer for a loved one who is depressed
Father, I lift up the person I love who is carrying this heavy sadness. You know every thought they can’t say out loud. Meet them in the low places. Remind them that they are seen, wanted and not a burden. Lift them out of this pit, one small step at a time, and set their feet on solid ground again. Amen.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV)
2. A prayer for someone with depression and anxiety
Jesus, my friend is fighting both a heavy heart and a racing mind. Some days they can’t get out of bed, and other days they can’t slow down. Quiet the fear, lift the weight and give them rest that actually restores them. Let them feel Your peace even before they can explain it. Amen.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
If anxiety is the louder struggle, these short prayers for anxiety can be prayed together or on their behalf.
3. A prayer when they won’t talk to you
Lord, they’ve gone quiet, and I don’t know how to reach them. Help me not to take it personally or force a conversation. Go where I can’t go. Speak to them in the silence, and when they’re ready, open a door and give me gentle words. Until then, help me stay close and patient. Amen.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
4. A prayer for a depressed spouse
God, my husband or wife is hurting, and our home feels heavier because of it. Help me love them without trying to manage them. Protect our marriage in this season. Give me strength on the days I’m doing more than my share, and help them know they are still deeply loved, not a problem to be solved. Amen.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
5. A prayer for a depressed teenager or adult child
Father, my child is struggling, and it breaks my heart. Guard their mind. Surround them with safe people, a good doctor or counselor, and friends who check in. Give me wisdom to know when to step in and when to listen. Remind them that their life has purpose and that You are not finished with their story. Amen.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
For more on praying through a child’s struggles, see our prayer for worrying about your children.
6. A prayer for a friend who feels hopeless
Lord, my friend says it won’t get better. They can’t see a future right now. Hold hope for them until they can hold it again. Fill them with Your peace and help them see one small reason to keep going today. Let my presence be a reminder that they are not alone. Amen.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
7. A prayer for someone too tired to pray
God, the one I love is too exhausted to pray for themselves, so I’m praying for them. Like You did for Elijah under the tree, meet their most basic needs first: rest, food and gentleness. Then lift their head when the journey feels too long. Amen.
“The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.””
1 Kings 19:7 (NIV)
8. A prayer for you, the one who’s helping
Jesus, loving someone through depression is wearing me out too. Comfort me so I can keep comforting them. Show me where my limits are and help me rest without guilt. Give me people who support me and wisdom to point my loved one toward real help. Amen.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
How to pray with someone who is depressed
Prayer for someone doesn’t always mean praying out loud in front of them. Depression can make long prayers feel like pressure. A few gentle ways to do it:
- Ask first. “Can I pray for you?” lets them say no without guilt.
- Keep it short. One or two honest sentences are enough. Skip the sermon.
- Don’t promise quick fixes. Pray for comfort, rest and help, not for them to “snap out of it.”
- Text a verse, not a lecture. A single line like Psalm 34:18 with “praying for you today” can land softly.
- Pray with your feet. Bring a meal, sit with them, drive them to an appointment. Love in action is prayer too.
- Invite others to pray. Share a request anonymously on our Prayer Wall so others can pray with you.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Romans 12:15 (NIV)
Bible verses to pray over someone with depression
- Psalm 42:11, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (NIV)
- Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (NIV)
- Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (NIV)
- Micah 7:8, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” (NIV)
For a longer list, see Bible verses for depression. If the person you love is the one reading this, our prayers for depression are written for them to pray themselves, and our prayers for sadness fit lighter low days.
When to get more help
Prayer and professional care belong together. If your loved one has been low for more than two weeks, has stopped eating or sleeping well, or has lost interest in everything, gently encourage them to see a doctor, counselor or pastor, and offer to help them make the call. The free 2-minute check-in can be an easy first step for them to take privately.
If they talk about wanting to die or hurting themselves, take it seriously. Stay with them and call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US), any time. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
Need peace for yourself at the end of these long days? Get 7 Nights of Peace, a free short bedtime prayer in your inbox each night for a week. For a short prayer for any other moment, see what to pray when, or try our prayer for hope.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pray for someone with depression?
Pray honestly and simply: ask God to be close to them, to give them rest and strength for today, to surround them with good help and to keep them safe. Pair prayer with practical love, and encourage professional care.
What is a short prayer for someone who is depressed?
“Lord, be close to my friend today. Lift the heaviness, give them rest and remind them they are loved and not alone. Amen.”
Should I tell them I’m praying for them?
Usually, yes, as long as it comes with no pressure. A quick “I’m praying for you today, no need to reply” lets them feel loved without needing to respond.
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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.