When the news is heavy, it can be hard to know what to do with the feeling. A prayer for peace in times of war will not solve anything by itself, but it can give the heart somewhere to go. This page offers short prayers, a simple eight-minute way to pray, and a few thoughts on staying steady.
The short version: say a few plain words for everyone affected, sit quietly for eight minutes, and let the prayer include people on every side, including those you disagree with. Then put the phone down and do the next small, kind thing in front of you.
Why pray when the news is heavy
Reading about suffering far away can leave a person feeling helpless and restless. Prayer or silence does not replace practical help. If you can give, volunteer or speak up for the vulnerable, do that as well. But a quiet moment of intention can be a way of staying human, of not turning away and not being swept along by anger.
This page does not name any conflict or take any side. That is deliberate. A prayer meant for everyone affected has to be larger than any one story. You are welcome to add names in your own heart, of people, places or families you know.
Short prayers for heavy days
These are our own words. Use them as they are, or change them until they fit your faith or your lack of one.
May those who are afraid be given safety.
May those who grieve be given comfort.
May those who are far from home find shelter.
May those who carry weapons be turned toward peace.
May those who decide find wisdom and restraint.
For every child tonight, a quiet room.
For every parent, a night without fear.
For every one of us, a heart that does not harden.
Let peace begin in me, and go out from here.
For traditional texts, the King James Bible offers lines that have been prayed for centuries: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9) and "Seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). More are collected in our guide to Bible verses about peace. The Prayer of St. Francis is another well-loved text for these days.
Praying for everyone, including those you disagree with
The hardest line in any prayer for peace is the one that includes people we blame. Most religious and ethical traditions ask us to try anyway, not because every action is excused, but because peace rarely arrives by wishing harm on anyone.
A simple way to do this is to widen the prayer in three steps:
- Begin with the people whose suffering is easiest to feel for.
- Add people you do not know, on any side, who are afraid or grieving.
- If you can, add those whose choices you find hard to forgive. You do not need to feel kind. You may simply say: "May they, too, be turned toward peace."
If step three is too much today, leave it out. You can come back to it another day. Trying is enough.
A simple eight-minute way
The Sunday practice at Cosmic Peace Prayers takes eight minutes at 8 PM your local time. You can use the same shape any day the news weighs on you. The timer on the home page can keep the time.
- Minutes 1 to 2: settle. Switch off notifications. Sit, feel your feet on the floor, breathe out slowly.
- Minutes 3 to 4: name what you feel. Sadness, anger, fear. Say it quietly in your own words. You do not have to fix it.
- Minutes 5 to 6: pray for all. Read the first prayer above, slowly, line by line, or use your own words.
- Minute 7: widen. Include those you disagree with, as far as you can today.
- Minute 8: return. Rest in silence. Finish with "May there be peace in the cosmos, peace within me, peace here and now."
How to stay steady
- Limit the intake. Choose one or two times a day to read the news, not a constant stream.
- Keep a rhythm. Short prayers at the same moments each day, for instance in the morning (see morning prayer for peace) or in the evening (see Sunday evening prayer).
- Do one small thing. Write to someone, help a neighbour, give what you can to a trusted aid organisation.
- Talk to someone. If the weight does not lift, speak with a friend, a pastor, a counsellor or another person you trust.
- Avoid winning arguments. Prayer does not need a verdict. It needs only your presence.
If you would like a quiet note before each Sunday, you can join the Sunday Letter. More prayers are collected in prayers for world peace, and you can browse all guides.
Questions
Does prayer for peace make a difference?
We cannot promise any outcome, and this site makes no claim that prayer changes events. Some people find that it steadies them and keeps their heart open. Many people pray and also act, and the two go well together.
How do I pray for peace without taking sides?
Pray for people rather than for victory: those who are afraid, those who grieve, those who are displaced, and those who hold power and weapons. Words like "may all be safe" and "may peace come" belong to everyone.
Can I pray for people I am angry at?
Yes, though you do not have to feel warm about it. You can simply wish that they be turned toward peace. If that is too hard right now, begin with those you find easy to care for and return to the harder part later.
What if I do not believe in God?
You can sit in silence, hold people in mind and wish them well. The words are an aid, not a requirement. The Sunday practice is open to people of any tradition and of none.
How long should I pray?
Eight minutes is a good length: long enough to settle, short enough to return to. A single breath and one line also count.