Watching a friend struggle with addiction can be very heartbreaking. On the outside, it can be so frustrating to see a loved one turn to things that are destroying them. It can seem like the answer to their constant suffering is so obvious—just quit. But for our friends who are trapped in addiction, the solution just isn’t that simple.
Many of us know what it feels like to love someone who is addicted. Love causes our hearts to break when we see our friends turning to someone other than the Lord to satisfy the emptiness in their hearts. We yearn for them to turn to freedom, but we find ourselves powerless to change them ourselves.
I would bet that, at times, many of us have found ourselves in a habit that we can’t break out of. We may or may not understand what it’s like to feel captive to alcohol or drugs, but we may have experienced addiction to work, overeating, exercising, watching tv, or being on our phones.
As humans, we live in a broken world that leaves us feeling empty, confused, and lonely at times. During the seasons of hardships, it can be tempting to turn to things of this world to attempt to fill those hurting places. But our hearts were made to turn to the Lord, and when we don’t, we can find ourselves trapped in cycles that only bring us more emptiness.
Thankfully, we know that God knows us and is familiar with our struggles. Because Jesus came to earth as a human, He knows what it’s like to struggle (Hebrews 4:15). God sympathizes with us in our weakness, and He provides a way out. WE can be confident that He can provide a way out of addiction for our loved ones.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
The prayers below can be used to seek the Lord when your heart is hurting over your friend’s addiction. You can also request prayer from others by sharing your request in the comments section below.
Short Prayer For Addicted Friend
God, I pray for my friend who is struggling with addiction. I pray that You would draw their heart to You and that they would be convinced without a doubt that You can meet their every need. Help them to see the way their addiction is hurting them and those around them, and free them from the temptation to turn to their addiction. We know that You have the power to free them from this struggle.
Longer Prayer For Addicted Friend
God, my heart is breaking as I watch my friend go through this addiction. Lord, I don’t understand why they can’t just stop when it’s clearly causing destruction in their lives and breaking the hearts of those around them. It’s confusing to me because it just seems like the answer is so obvious.
I feel so frustrated because I just can’t seem to say anything that will help them to change. No amount of my warnings or pleadings seem to do any good. It’s like they just don’t understand how much they are suffering because of this addiction. I just wish I had more control.
Yet I know that we are only human. As 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, there is an enemy that is seeking to wage war on our souls. I know that my friend is experiencing spiritual struggles in addition to the physical struggle of this addiction.
God, I pray that You would free my friend from this bondage. I pray that You would convict my friend and show them the ways that the addiction is leading them down a dark path. Show them that You alone are the rescuer. You alone are the comforter and security of our souls. Convince them that there is no physical thing that can take the place of you.
I plead that You would free them from the mental bondage that causes them to keep repeating unhealthy behaviors. I pray that You would free them from the physical addiction that their body is experiencing.
I know that You are the one who can rescue them. I have no ability to control them or to change them. But You, God, are the one who created our hearts, and You heal our broken hearts as well. I trust You, even when I don’t understand.
Prayer For Alcohol Addiction
Lord, watching my friend struggle with alcohol is so difficult. I know they’ve tried to stop drinking before, but the physical and mental withdrawals were more than they could handle. They don’t know how to stop, even when they want to.
God, Ephesians 5:18 reminds us not to be drunk with alcohol, but it instead encourages us to be filled with the Spirit. I pray that You would fill my friend with Your Spirit so that they have the endurance they need to stop drinking. Lord, I pray that you could even lead them to a good counselor or support group to get the help they need. I know that You can do all things.
Prayer For Drug Addiction
Dear Father, we know that You created everything on this earth. But we have taken some substances that You’ve created and made them into drugs to numb our pain or to help us feel something when we feel nothing at all. God, my friend is stuck in this cycle right now.
It’s scary, God, because I know that abusing drugs can be life threatening. I feel afraid that something bad will happen to my friend, and they aren’t listening to my warning.
Oh, God, I pray that You would free them from using drugs. Help them to see all the dangers that they are facing. Replace their desire to use with Your peace that passes all understanding. I know that You are able to keep us from stumbling, God. I praise You for being all powerful and wise. (Jude 1:24-25).
Prayer For Pornography Addiction
Lord, right now I lift up my friend who is struggling with pornography to You. God, this cycle seems impossible to break since porn is accessible almost anywhere. God, I know that You created sex for marriage and that sexual activity outside of marriage creates dysfunction.
Help my friend to see how harmful porn is to their body, brain, relationships, and relationship with You. I pray that You would free them from all temptation. I pray that when they are tempted, they would lean on Your Holy Spirit to give them a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).
I pray that they would not feel that they have to hide their addiction in shame, but that they would confess their struggles to a trusted friend to help them overcome. Help them to know that their value is not lessened because of their struggle.
Prayer For Gambling Addiction
Dear God, I pray that you would free my friend from the temptation to find security in money. God, I know that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), but we are so prone to chasing after it to ensure our stability. God, help my friend see that You are the provider of all our needs. We can look to You for our daily bread. We can find out security in You alone.
Prayer For Work Addiction
God, I know that You created us to work. But my friend is working so much that they are not spending time with family or taking time to rest.
God, I worry because my friend seems tired, but they are trying to avoid some of their life issues by finding structure and meaning in work. There is a time and season for everything, and I ask that you would help my friend find rest in this season. Help them to know that You will provide for their physical and emotional needs.
Closing Thoughts
Addiction is unique to each person. There are many different reasons that drive people to seek solace in addiction. We pray that no matter what kind of addiction your friend is experiencing, that you would find the words to cry out to the Lord on their behalf.
Please know that as much as your friend is struggling, we recognize that their addiction is causing you to struggle as well. We know that our sin often affects the people closest to us. We hope you can find some comfort in the Lord and His sovereignty. He knows and cares about your friend even more than you do, if you even thought that was possible!
Though you feel powerless to change your friend, please know that there is much power in prayer. James 5:16 tells us that the prayers of a righteous person have great power. We pray that you are able to rest in God’s sovereignty in your friend’s life. We pray that you can continue to be the faithful friend that your loved one needs.
We invite you to share your prayer requests in the section below so that others can lift up your needs to our Father in Heaven.