The experience of violence—whether physical, emotional, or systemic—shatters the foundation of safety, leaving deep, often invisible wounds that affect the body, mind, and spirit. For the victim, the world suddenly becomes a place of profound danger, confusion, and fear, often leading to isolation, anxiety, and a relentless struggle to reclaim a sense of worth and normalcy. In the face of such profound trauma and injustice, human words often fail, and the heart’s only recourse is to turn to the ultimate source of healing and restoration.
Prayer for victims of violence is a profound act of spiritual warfare and intercession, asking the Almighty to intervene where human systems have failed. It is a petition for divine comfort to mend the broken spirit, for strength to face the arduous path of recovery, and for justice to prevail against the forces of darkness. Through these intentional words, we secure a covering of grace, trusting that God sees the suffering, is near the brokenhearted, and is faithful to bring forth complete healing and peace.
23 Prayer For Victims Of Violence
1. Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
The immediate aftermath of violence leaves the victim feeling profoundly brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, struggling with intense vulnerability. This prayer is for God’s immediate presence and intimacy in their trauma, asking the Lord to fulfill His promise to draw near. We petition Him to save their spirit from sinking into despair and to assure them that they are seen, valued, and secured by His personal, unwavering love.
Lord, I pray for Your immediate, intimate presence to surround the victim of violence who feels brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. I ask that You would fulfill Your promise to draw near to them in their deepest trauma and vulnerability. Save their spirit from despair and assure them that they are completely seen, deeply valued, and secured by Your personal, unwavering love and protection.
2. Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Violence inflicts deep, open emotional and psychological wounds that require divine intervention for true recovery. This prayer is for the holistic healing of the victim’s heart, asking God to be the tender Physician who actively mends the trauma. We pray that the Lord would bind up their wounds, ensuring that their pain is addressed with compassion and their spirit is restored to peace and wholeness.
Father, I pray for the complete, holistic healing of the victim’s emotional and psychological wounds. Be the tender Physician who actively mends the trauma, ensuring that their pain is addressed with Your divine compassion. I ask that You would bind up their brokenheartedness, restoring their spirit to peace, and securing them in the truth that true wholeness is found only in Your restorative grace.
3. Romans 12:19 (ESV)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
The intense desire for vengeance can become a secondary torment to the victim, trapping them in bitterness. This prayer is for the grace to surrender the need for personal revenge and trust in God’s perfect justice. We ask the Holy Spirit to empower the victim to release their anger, allowing God to carry the burden of repayment, ensuring their heart is freed from the poison of bitterness.
Lord, I pray for the victim’s spiritual strength to surrender the consuming desire for personal revenge. I ask for the grace to leave the burden of repayment to You, trusting completely in Your perfect justice and righteous wrath. Free their heart from the internal torment and poison of bitterness, ensuring their focus shifts from vengeance to finding peace and healing in Your presence.
4. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Trauma is a severe affliction, and this prayer is a direct appeal to the God of all comfort for sustaining grace. We ask the Father of mercies to pour His compassion into the victim’s sorrow, making His comfort a tangible reality that upholds them through the arduous recovery. We pray that they would be so completely comforted by God that they eventually find strength to live again.
Father of mercies, I appeal to You as the God of all comfort to surround the victim in their severe affliction. Pour out Your boundless compassion and sustaining grace upon their sorrow and pain, making Your comfort a tangible reality. I pray that they would be so completely comforted by You that their heart is strengthened for the arduous path of recovery and they are upheld in their weakness.
5. Psalm 91:4 (ESV)
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler.
The victim needs profound assurance of physical protection and safety in a world that now feels dangerous and unpredictable. This prayer is for a comprehensive shield of divine guardianship. We ask the Lord to be a tangible refuge and shield, covering the victim with His presence and ensuring their life is secured from any recurrence of harm or future threat, restoring their sense of security.
Lord, I pray for a comprehensive shield of divine guardianship and safety to surround the victim. I ask that You be their tangible refuge and shield, covering them with Your pinions, ensuring their life is secured from any recurrence of harm or future threat. Restore their shattered sense of safety and security, allowing them to find peace under Your wings in the world that now feels dangerous and unpredictable.
6. Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
In the confusion of trauma, it is difficult to see any purpose or meaning in the suffering. This prayer is for the faith to trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty and redemptive power. We ask God to strengthen the victim’s faith, confirming that their suffering will not be wasted but will eventually be woven into a powerful testimony of His goodness, aligning their pain with His ultimate purpose.
Father, I pray for the victim’s faith to trust completely in Your ultimate sovereignty and redemptive power over this injustice. I ask that You strengthen their belief that their suffering, though senseless, will not be wasted. Fortify their conviction that all things will ultimately work together for good, ensuring that their pain is aligned with Your purpose and transformed into a powerful testimony of Your goodness.
7. John 14:27 (ESV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The internal world of the victim is often plagued by restlessness, fear, and intrusive thoughts. This prayer is for the supernatural gift of Christ’s peace to rule their hearts. We ask the Holy Spirit to quiet the inner turmoil, anxiety, and restlessness, settling their spirit in the knowledge that they are secured in Christ’s love, allowing them to rest in a peace that transcends the external violence.
Lord Jesus, I pray for the supernatural gift of Your peace to settle the victim’s troubled heart and mind. Quiet the internal turmoil, anxiety, and restlessness caused by intrusive thoughts. I ask that Your peace, which is not as the world gives, would secure their heart in Your love, removing all fear and allowing them to rest in a spiritual calm that transcends the external violence they experienced.
8. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Trauma can lead to destructive coping mechanisms, bitterness, or shame that defile the heart. This prayer is for spiritual cleansing and renewal, asking God to guard the victim’s internal life from the secondary effects of the violence. We pray for a clean heart and a right spirit, ensuring that the victim’s focus remains on healing and holiness, not on the poison of bitterness or shame.
Father, I pray for the spiritual cleansing and renewal of the victim’s heart and mind. I ask that You would guard their internal life from the destructive secondary effects of violence, such as bitterness, anger, or shame. Create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within them, ensuring their focus remains fixed on healing and holiness, not on the defilement or poison of resentment.
9. Matthew 5:44 (ESV)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
This is perhaps the hardest prayer, asking for the grace of unconditional love and spiritual liberation from the perpetrator. This prayer is not for reconciliation but for the spiritual freedom of the victim. We ask God to empower them to pray for those who persecuted them, ensuring their heart is freed from the spiritual bondage of hatred, which is essential for complete, internal recovery.
Lord, I pray for the victim’s spiritual liberation from the bondage of hatred toward their perpetrator. I ask for the extraordinary grace to pray for those who persecuted them, not for reconciliation, but for internal freedom. Empower them to love their enemies, ensuring that their heart is completely freed from the spiritual toxicity of hatred, which is essential for their full and complete internal recovery.
10. Lamentations 3:25 (ESV)
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Healing from trauma is a long, arduous process requiring immense patience and perseverance. This prayer is for the grace to endure the long season of recovery. We ask God to sustain the victim’s faith and remind them that He is good to those who seek Him, ensuring their pain does not lead them to quit the healing journey but strengthens their reliance on His goodness.
Father, I pray for the mother’s spiritual patience and perseverance to endure the long process of healing and waiting. I ask that You would sustain their faith and remind them constantly that the Lord is good to the soul who seeks Him. Do not allow their pain to lead them to quit the healing journey, but deepen their reliance on Your unfailing goodness and constant love, ensuring their recovery is complete.
11. Psalm 56:3 (ESV)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Violence fundamentally destroys trust and installs persistent fear in the heart, making daily life difficult. This prayer is for the spiritual strength to actively choose trust over fear. We ask God to empower the victim to put their trust completely in Him during moments of terror or anxiety, building a new foundation of security that is rooted in God’s reliability, not in human systems.
Lord, I pray for the victim’s spiritual strength to actively choose trust over fear in every moment of anxiety. When they are afraid, I pray they would put their trust completely in You, recognizing that You are their ultimate shield. Empower them to release the need to control their environment, building a new, unshakeable foundation of security that is rooted entirely in Your reliability and faithfulness, not in human systems.
12. Psalm 121:7 (ESV)
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The memory of the event can often feel like a recurrence of the evil itself. This prayer is for protection from destructive memories and flashbacks. We ask the Lord to be the ultimate Keeper of their mind and emotional health, shielding them from the paralyzing effect of traumatic memories, ensuring that their life and peace are securely preserved by Him.
Father, I pray for the complete protection of the victim’s mind and emotional health from the recurring effects of the trauma. I ask that the Lord will keep them from the evil of destructive memories and flashbacks that try to hijack their peace. Shield their mind and emotional health, ensuring that their life and inner peace are securely preserved by You and free from the paralyzing grip of the past event.
13. Jeremiah 33:6 (ESV)
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of lasting peace and security.
This is a powerful promise of lasting peace and security that is revealed only by God. This prayer is for the full manifestation of this promise in the victim’s life. We ask God to bring not just physical health, but a revealing of deep, internal peace and security that overcomes the chaos of the past, establishing them in a state of abundant, permanent tranquility.
Lord, I pray for the full manifestation of Your promise of lasting peace and security in the victim’s life. I ask that You bring to them holistic health and healing, revealing a deep, internal peace that completely overcomes the chaos of the past. Establish them in an abundant state of permanent tranquility and security that is found only in Your unwavering presence and love.
14. Romans 8:1 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Victims of violence often struggle with immense guilt and self-blame, feeling they were responsible for the attack. This prayer is for complete freedom from condemnation and self-blame. We ask the Holy Spirit to silence the lie of the accuser and the voice of guilt, reminding the victim that there is absolutely no condemnation for them in Christ, allowing them to walk in full acceptance and forgiveness.
Father, I pray for the complete spiritual freedom of the victim from the intense guilt and self-blame that haunts their recovery. I ask the Holy Spirit to silence the lie of the accuser and the voice of condemnation, reminding them that there is absolutely no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Empower them to walk in full acceptance and forgiveness, free from the burden of unjust guilt.
15. Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Trauma can feel like a heavy weight that keeps the victim from engaging with life. This prayer is for the spiritual strength to lay aside the weight of trauma and run the race of life with endurance. We ask God to empower the victim to shed the heavy burden of the past, granting them the resilience and perseverance needed to fully reclaim their destiny and live their life with purpose.
Lord, I pray for the victim’s spiritual strength to lay aside the heavy weight of trauma that hinders their life. I ask that You empower them to shed the burden of the past, granting them the resilience and perseverance to run the race that is set before them. Enable them to fully reclaim their destiny and live their life with purpose, transforming their enduring pain into spiritual strength.
16. James 1:5 (ESV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The journey toward healing requires difficult choices regarding therapy, legal action, or public disclosure. This prayer is for wisdom and clarity in navigating the complex recovery and legal process. We ask God to generously supply the insight needed for sound judgments, ensuring their decisions honor their healing path and lead them to the best possible outcome.
Father, I pray for divine wisdom and clarity for the victim in navigating the complex journey of recovery and legal processes. When they lack understanding regarding therapy, legal options, or disclosure, I ask that You would give generously of Your insight. Guide their decisions, ensuring every choice they make honors their healing path and leads them to the best possible outcome and resolution.
17. Romans 5:5 (ESV)
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Violence is fundamentally a betrayal of love and trust. This prayer is for a fresh, powerful pouring of God’s love into the victim’s heart. We ask the Holy Spirit to minister the truth that God’s love is unwavering and secure, rebuilding their capacity to trust and ensuring their emotional reservoir is filled with a love that casts out the shame and fear caused by the violence.
Lord, I pray for a powerful, fresh pouring of Your love into the victim’s heart, healing the betrayal of trust and love they endured. I ask the Holy Spirit to minister the truth that God’s love is unwavering and secure, rebuilding their capacity to trust. Fill their emotional reservoir with Your perfect love, which casts out the shame and fear caused by the violence.
18. Psalm 120:1 (ESV)
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he answered me.
This prayer is for the courage to cry out to God in distress, believing He will answer immediately. We ask God to grant the victim the spiritual clarity and resolve to call upon the Lord the moment they are overwhelmed by anxiety or trauma. We pray for a tangible, swift answer that reminds them of God’s saving power and responsiveness in their hour of need.
Father, I pray for the spiritual clarity and courage for the victim to call upon the Lord in their distress. I ask that You would grant them the immediate resolve to call upon You the moment they are overwhelmed by anxiety or traumatic memory. Give them a tangible, swift answer that reminds them of Your saving power and unwavering responsiveness in their deepest hour of need.
19. 1 John 4:18 (ESV)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Violence leaves a residue of fear and terror. This prayer is for perfect love to cast out fear completely from the victim’s life. We ask the Holy Spirit to surround them with the reality of God’s perfect love, healing the parts of their heart that associate the world with terror, enabling them to walk forward in love, peace, and restored emotional security.
Lord, I pray for Your perfect love to cast out all fear and terror that remains in the victim’s heart. I ask the Holy Spirit to surround them with the reality of Your love, healing the parts of their heart that associate the world with terror and danger. Enable them to walk forward in love, peace, and restored emotional security, knowing that perfect love makes them whole.
20. Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
This prayer is for strength and courage to face legal or social challenges and the perpetrator. We ask God to remove the dread and fear associated with seeking justice. We pray for the assurance that the Lord goes with them into every difficult confrontation, ensuring they are not forsaken but stand strong and courageous, upheld by His presence.
Father, I pray for the victim’s strength and courage to face legal or social challenges and any required confrontation with the perpetrator. Remove the dread and fear associated with seeking justice. I ask for the assurance that the Lord goes with them into every difficult meeting, ensuring they stand strong, courageous, and upheld by Your presence, knowing You will not leave them or forsake them.
21. Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Trauma causes deep physical and emotional exhaustion. This prayer is for divine strength and sustenance when the human resources are depleted. We ask God to be the unshakeable strength of their heart, upholding them when their flesh and emotions feel like they are failing, ensuring their spiritual supply is limitless and their identity is rooted in Him as their portion forever.
Lord, I pray for divine strength and sustenance for the victim whose flesh and heart may fail due to trauma and exhaustion. I ask that You be the unshakeable strength of their heart, upholding them when their human resources are depleted. Be their portion forever, ensuring that their spiritual supply is limitless and their identity is rooted in You, sustaining them through physical and emotional breakdown.
22. Psalm 42:5 (ESV)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Violence often leaves a residue of despair and spiritual disquiet. This prayer is for the victim’s spiritual resilience to fight against giving up on hope and healing. We ask God to empower them to actively command their soul to hope in Him, recognizing that He remains their salvation, ensuring they will rise above the trauma and again praise Him fully.
Father, I pray for the victim’s spiritual resilience, empowering them to actively fight against the despair and spiritual disquiet. I ask that You grant them the strength to command their soul, reminding themselves to hope in God, recognizing that You remain their salvation. Ensure they will rise above the trauma and again praise You fully, their spiritual resilience securing their eventual wholeness.
23. Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
This final prayer is the ultimate benediction of peace and grace over the victim’s life and recovery. We ask for God’s continuous favor to shine upon them, His grace to sustain them, and His peace to anchor their souls. We pray that the Lord would lift up His countenance upon them, granting them the deep assurance of His love and protection as they rebuild their lives.
Lord, I pray this final benediction of peace and grace over the victim’s life and recovery. May the Lord bless them and keep them, making His face to shine upon them and be gracious to them. I ask that the Lord would lift up His countenance upon them, granting them continuous favor, sustaining grace, and the deep, abiding peace that anchors their soul as they bravely rebuild their lives.
Conclusion
The trauma of violence is profound, but your dedicated intercession has secured a powerful covering of divine grace and healing for the victim. You have courageously petitioned the Father for immediate comfort, complete spiritual cleansing, perfect justice, and the resilience to pursue wholeness.
Continue to stand firm in the certainty that God is near the brokenhearted and fully committed to their restoration. Trust that His unwavering love will cast out all fear, transform their pain into powerful testimony, and guide them back to a future defined by lasting peace and security.
