Does prayer create peace in the last moments of life? Many studies and personal accounts suggest it often does, helping people facing death feel calmer and more at ease. For those in palliative care, the final days can bring deep fears about pain, loss, and what comes next. Prayer steps in as a simple tool, offering comfort through connection to something greater, whether that is God, the universe, or inner strength.
Doctors and researchers have looked closely at this. In one national survey of physicians who handle end-of-life care, most saw patient prayer and beliefs as having a positive psychological impact, easing anxiety right up to the end.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699817/ These doctors noted that spiritual practices like prayer help patients process their emotions and find meaning in suffering. Another study from 2024 in JAMA Network found that spiritual support, including prayer, boosts peace and satisfaction for people with serious illnesses.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/
Why does this happen? Prayer triggers what Harvard doctor Herbert Benson calls the relaxation response. Just 10 to 20 minutes of quiet prayer or reflection can slow the heart rate, cut down anxiety, and even dull pain.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/ It is like flipping a switch in the body to release calm. Recent work in BMC Palliative Care from 2025 shows that weaving spirituality into medical care improves well-being and cuts hospital stays by helping patients feel more resilient.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/
Chaplains who sit with dying patients often guide them in prayer. Their role in long-term care settings focuses on listening and praying together, which brings a sense of wholeness to those final moments.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648251408543 Research backs this up, stressing that spiritual care touches the whole person, not just the body.https://www.okstatemedicalproceedings.com/index.php/OSMP/article/view/274/657 Nine out of ten people with faith say it helps them cope with illness, turning fear into acceptance.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/
Not every case is the same. Some patients come from backgrounds without prayer traditions, yet they still find peace through quiet reflection or talks about life’s big questions. Physicians trained in spiritual care over years report better connections with patients, leading to smoother end-of-life talks.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699817/ In places like hospitals in the US and Turkey, staff see prayer as a key part of palliative teams.
Prayer does not erase pain or death, but it often quiets the mind. People describe letting go of regrets, feeling gratitude, and sensing love around them. Simple words in prayer, like thank you or I love you, can lift heavy burdens in those last hours.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699817/
https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/
https://www.okstatemedicalproceedings.com/index.php/OSMP/article/view/274/657
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648251408543
