“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)
The Horror of Sudden Violence
Terrorism strikes without warning, turning ordinary moments into scenes of unimaginable horror. Markets explode, concerts become massacres, and worshipers are gunned down in their pews. Suicide bombers walk into crowded cafes, vehicles plow through festivals, and planes become weapons. The goal is not just to kill but to spread fear that paralyzes entire societies. Survivors carry physical scars and emotional wounds that never fully heal. Families bury loved ones whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Christians pray for victims of terrorism because evil targets the innocent, and only God can bring comfort when human words fail.
Hostage situations create a different kind of terror that stretches across days, months, or even years. Captives endure isolation, abuse, and the constant threat of execution. Families wait in agony, not knowing if their loved ones are alive or dead. Some hostages are taken for ransom, others for political leverage, and still others simply because they follow Christ. Missionaries have been kidnapped and killed. Aid workers have vanished into the hands of extremist groups. Journalists covering conflicts disappear. Believers pray for those held captive because we serve a God who breaks chains, who walked with Daniel’s friends in the fire, and who sent angels to open prison doors. We pray knowing that freedom may come through rescue, ransom, or the strength to endure until death.
Prayer for Those Who Survived the Attack
Merciful Father, we lift up every person who lived through terrorist violence but will never be the same. They carry shrapnel in their bodies that surgeons could not remove. They lost limbs, sight, hearing, or the ability to walk. Burns cover their skin, reminding them daily of the fire that consumed others beside them. Some escaped physical injury but watched friends die in their arms. They ran through smoke and chaos, stepping over bodies, hearing screams that still echo in their sleep. Now they struggle with guilt for surviving when others did not. The nightmares come every night, replaying the explosion, the gunfire, the moment everything changed. They flinch at loud noises and cannot enter crowded spaces without panic rising in their throats.
Lord Jesus, You understand trauma because You endured torture and watched Your friends scatter in fear. Bring healing to minds shattered by what they witnessed. Calm the racing hearts that cannot distinguish between memory and present danger. Restore sleep to those who lie awake, afraid of what they will see when they close their eyes. Send skilled counselors who know how to treat deep psychological wounds. Place these survivors in communities that will not rush them to “move on” or “get over it.” Give them patience with themselves as healing comes slowly, in tiny increments that feel too small to matter. Let them know that You do not despise their tears, their anger, or their questions about why You allowed this to happen. Hold them when they cannot hold themselves together.
Amen.
Prayer for Hostages and Their Families
God of deliverance, we cry out for every person held captive by terrorists right now. They wake each day not knowing if it will be their last. Their captors mock their faith, forcing them to make videos or denying them food and water. Some are chained in darkness, losing track of time and hope. Others are paraded before cameras as propaganda tools. They pray for rescue but hear only silence.
Father, sustain them in captivity as You sustained Joseph in prison and Daniel in the lion’s den. Give them strength to refuse compromise even under threats of death. Let them sense Your presence in their cells. Put words of scripture in their minds that they memorized years ago, now returned as bread for their spirits. Send dreams and visions that assure them they are not forgotten.
We plead for the families waiting at home without information. Mothers check their phones constantly for news that never comes. Children ask when their father will return, and no one can answer. Wives become widows in limbo, unable to grieve or move forward. The not knowing becomes its own form of torture. Sustain these families with supernatural peace that makes no logical sense.
Lord, raise up skilled negotiators who can secure release. Give wisdom to government officials making impossible decisions about ransom and military action. Confound the plans of captors so that hostages become more trouble than they are worth. If rescue operations are mounted, guide every operator and shield the innocent from crossfire. When release finally comes, heal the trauma of captivity.
Amen.
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Prayer for Justice and the Defeat of Terror
Righteous Judge, we bring before You the men and women who plan and carry out terrorist attacks. They believe their violence serves a holy cause. They train young people to die as suicide bombers, convincing them that murder will earn paradise. They record executions and spread the videos to multiply fear. They kidnap children and turn them into soldiers. Some of them were once victims themselves, radicalized by grief or injustice, now perpetuating the cycle of violence they once suffered.
We ask You to stop them before they kill again. Expose their plans to authorities who can intervene. Let informants within terrorist networks find courage to betray the next plot. Cause bombs to fail, weapons to jam, and vehicles to break down. Send confusion into their communications so that attacks are called off or delayed. When they gather to plan massacres, let doubt and disagreement arise among them. Disrupt their funding streams and training camps.
Father, we pray for the rare miracle of genuine repentance among terrorists. You transformed Saul the persecutor into Paul the apostle. You can change hearts that seem irredeemably hardened. Convict those who claim to kill in Your name or in the name of any god. Show them the faces of the children they orphaned, the parents they murdered, the futures they destroyed. Break through the ideology that numbs their conscience. If they will not repent, remove them from power before they shed more innocent blood.
We lift up security forces and intelligence agencies working to prevent attacks. They sift through endless data looking for the signal hidden in noise. They go without sleep during high threat periods. Some of them die stopping attacks the public never knows were planned. Grant them wisdom to identify real threats among false alarms. Protect them from corruption that trades security for bribes. When they must make split-second decisions, guide their judgment.
Lord, we ask You to address the root causes that feed terrorism. Poverty creates desperation that recruiters exploit. Oppression breeds rage that extremists channel toward violence. Failed states become safe havens where terrorists train openly. Corrupt governments push people toward radical alternatives. Speak to the hearts of leaders who could address these conditions but choose not to. Raise up voices within affected communities who offer hope without violence.
We pray for societies living under the shadow of constant threat. Citizens pass through metal detectors to enter markets. Children’s backpacks are searched before they enter school. People avoid crowds and public transportation. The fear terrorists seek to create has taken root. Restore the freedom to live without looking over shoulders. Let communities refuse to be terrorized, choosing resilience over retreat. Give believers courage to be salt and light even in dangerous places, trusting You for protection while accepting that safety is not guaranteed in this broken world.
Amen.
Disclaimer: This prayer is provided for spiritual encouragement based on biblical principles. It does not replace personal prayer, professional counseling, medical treatment, or pastoral guidance. God answers prayers according to His will and timing. Questions? Contact editor@eyesclose.com
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