Can prayer reduce resentment during the dying process? Research and personal stories suggest it can help by bringing peace, emotional stability, and a sense of wholeness to people facing terminal illness. For those nearing the end of life, resentment often builds from pain, unresolved hurts, or fear of death. Simple prayer practices may ease these feelings, allowing a calmer farewell.
Doctors and researchers have looked at how spiritual care, including prayer, supports patients in palliative settings. One study on spirituality in terminal illness highlights prayer as part of spiritual interactions between doctors and patients at life’s end. It notes that such care helps address deep emotional needs, like letting go of grudges. For details, see this source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699817/[2].
Brain science adds more evidence. A discussion of brain scans shows praying in tongues leads to greater emotional stability compared to regular speech or chanting. Neurosurgeon Dr. Avery Jackson shared findings from a 2005 study by Andrew Newberg at Jefferson Hospital. Scans revealed that this type of prayer lowers blood pressure, boosts immune response through natural killer cells, and reduces anxiety. Unforgiveness and emotional wounds were linked to ongoing disease, while prayer promoted healing on emotional and physical levels. Watch the full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-LFAUNVKY[1].
In end-of-life care, resentment might stem from trauma or bitterness toward life events. Prayer shifts focus to peace, as described in Isaiah 26:3, which speaks of perfect peace for those who trust. Studies affirm spiritual care’s role in treating the whole person, body and spirit. Another report emphasizes how addressing spiritual issues improves overall health during serious illness. Read it here: https://www.okstatemedicalproceedings.com/index.php/OSMP/article/view/274/657[3].
Patients in hospitals have shared how prayer with caregivers helped them release anger. Experts in spiritual health, including oncologists, recommend it as part of routine care. Even short prayers can quiet the mind, much like how brain scans show reduced stress activity. Those with chronic pain or autoimmune issues report clearer thinking and less fog after praying.
Healthcare workers trained in spiritual care see real changes. In one program, family doctors used tools like the Ars Moriendi Model to guide patients through death with less resentment. Interviews showed it fostered forgiveness and acceptance. Prayer fits naturally into these approaches, offering a direct path to emotional relief.
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-LFAUNVKY
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699817/
https://www.okstatemedicalproceedings.com/index.php/OSMP/article/view/274/657
