9 Prayers for Returning Back to Normal after COVID

Father God,
     Together we come before You with empathetic and full hearts to pray for the anxious. Lord, we know that anxiety is not of You, but it is something that throws us like waves in a storm. Help us to cast our anxieties and cares upon You (1 Peter 5:7). As we all take those first steps back into the world after such a season of isolation and fear, we pray that each and every one of us would feel Your presence. Embrace us with Your peace as You calm the waves. May we breathe in Your peace and exhale our worry. Help us to step into this upcoming season with firm steps knowing You are with us forever.
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

2. Prayer for those Struggling with Mental Illness

Father God,
       This past year has not only been hit with the virus of COVID-19, but it has also been hit with mental illness. Several of us have struggled with depression, anxiety, and other struggles more than ever. Lord, help those struggling in the midst of such battles. Give them Your strength, comfort, and lead them to the assistance they need to live free from such burdens. Please also help the hearts of those around them to be empathetic and kind, understanding that it is not a matter of merely choosing to be happy. Help those around them to support and comfort them, and be eager to aid them in their journey towards recovery. Lord may Your Spirit pour out truth, understanding, and love among all those suffering and all those involved. We thank You in advance.
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

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Father God,
     As we look back at the toll the virus has taken upon our word, the most apparent toll is the loss of so many. We pray for those these victims have left behind. It is a devastating hit to lose someone you care for, and so Lord we want to take this opportunity to lift up those grieving. Help nudge us in know how to bless them in comforting ways. Tell us when to send an encouraging card, when to make a check-in call, or how to be an encouraging soul in their lives. Our hearts break for those in bereavement and together we pray for them during this time. 
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

4. Prayers as Schools Reopen in Person

Father God,
     As schools begin to reopen in person we want to lift up so many. Please be with the teachers and instructors as they help navigate what a new normal looks like. Be with the students as they enjoy coming back together, and for some the reunions of those they have missed greatly. Help their knowledge to grow and may the energy of those around them get them excited about learning. Please bless those working currently planning and working to ensure a smooth process. We pray for our future generations that they may carry a sense of compassion for others and that the lessons learned while away from the physical classroom may be used for benefit in their futures.
           In Jesus Name,
               Amen

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Father God,
     The Pandemic has hit many small businesses economically. We pray for the real people who work in these businesses, those who provide for their families in working in them, and for those who have faced these exceedingly difficult times financially. Lord, we pray that You would direct their paths. Where provision is needed, we pray for provision. Where direction for next steps is needed, we pray for Your wisdom in guidance to them. Lord, we thank You for how these businesses are so unique and a vital part of our communities, so we pray over them. Help us too in knowing how to best support them now and in the days to come.
         In Jesus Name,
          Amen

6. Prayers for Church Congregation 

Father God,
     It is a beautiful hope of Church doors opening again completely. We pray for service attendance as the doors open yet again. May people feel a peace in coming together and celebrate the joy that comes from the fellowship you gift us with. We know that the Church is not merely a building, but the Body of Believers in Christ Jesus. Help us to connect in person once again and feel secure in doing so. Bless the interactions, the prayers, and the reunions. Bless our pastors and those who serve in the Church as they make adjustments as well. Lord, we truly pray that our Church Services will be flooded with those ready and eager to worship You.
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

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Father God,
      So many have suffered from the COVID-19 Virus, and for so many that fight has endured through the after effects of Post COVID-19. We come together to lift up all those who have been inflicted by this vicious disease. We pray for total restoration and healing upon them. Lord, You are the God of healing, Jehovah-Rapha, and so we come before You seeking the healing for so many. May their bodies be renewed, and may their hearts be able to enjoy life again. May every “set back” be just a “comeback” in the waiting.
         In Jesus Name,
              Amen

8. Prayers for Essential Workers

Father God,
     We pray for the essential workers who have tirelessly given so much during the time of this Pandemic. Lord, we pray for the medical workers who selfless have fought alongside their patients in helping them to heal and recover. We pray for the weary souls who have seen the horrors of what this virus can do. Please flood them with Your strength and comfort as they move forward in their lives. We thank You for their service, their generosity, and their sacrifices. We pray abundant blessings upon their lives in the days to come.
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

9. Prayers for the New Normal 

Father God,
     The World as we knew it is gone, and for what feels like such a long time we have experienced so much hardship during this Pandemic. As we prepare to walk into the future we pray for the “new normal” to come. May our hearts be unified in You more than ever. May the tender moments of seeing someone again in person be all the more rich and treasured. May the reunions, interactions, and moments ahead be held in such intentionality and may we turn to You in sincere gratitude. Help us to come out of this Pandemic better, not bitter. Help us to become more considerate of others, more mindful of how we can help one another, and how we can serve You and Your children well. We thank You that no matter how dark the night may get, there is the hope of the dawn to come.
          In Jesus Name,
               Amen

Send-Off

As the lights begin to come back on in the world it can feel nerve-racking at the unknowns to come. Rest in knowing that we are truly all in this together, and stepping into the light of a new day can be peaceful for we know Who created that new day to come. 

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