Prayers for Confort
from the UPHS Pastoral Care Patient Brochure

PRAYERS FOR COMFORT

We hope you find comfort in the following prayers. You may request scriptures, informative and inspirational readings, and prayers for particular religious traditions, from the chaplains.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters;
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Serenity Prayer

O God, give us the courage to accept with serenity the things we cannot change. Give us the courage to change the things that should be changed. And give us the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

For Strength to Cope

O God, You know my feelings. You know that I want to feel better. I want to be better. I want to have my health restored. But the hours of testing, the days of diagnosis, and question marks concerning my future seem nearly more than I can take! Grant me, O God, the strength to face each hour of this and every day. In fact, when it seems that I cannot face even this hour, fill me with sufficient strength to face the next five minutes. Amen.

Before Surgery

O God, You are with me in my moments of strength and of weakness. You know the trembling of my heart as the turning point draws near. Grant wisdom and skill to the mind and hands of those who will operate on me, and those who assist them. Grant that I may return to fullness of life and wholeness of strength, not for my sake alone but for those about me. Enable me to complete my days on earth with dignity and purpose. May I awaken to know the breadth of Your healing power, now and evermore.

For Healing

Dear Lord, You are the great physician. I turn to you in my sickness, asking you for help. I put myself under Your loving care, praying that I may know Your healing grace and wholeness. Help me to find love in this strange world and to feel Your presence by my bed both day and night. Give my doctors and nurses wisdom, that they may understand my illness. Steady and guide them with your strong hand. Reach out Your hand to me and touch my life with Your peace. Amen.