Can prayer help mend broken relationships before someone dies? Many people of faith believe it can, drawing from teachings that link forgiveness and reconciliation directly to effective prayer.
Picture this: You have a falling out with a family member or friend, and years pass without a word. Tension builds, and now time feels short, maybe because illness or age has entered the picture. Does turning to prayer make a difference in healing that rift? According to Christian teachings in the Bible, yes, it often does, but only if paired with real steps toward forgiveness. In Mark 11:25, Jesus says that when you pray, first forgive anyone you hold a grudge against, so God can forgive you toohttps://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/greg-laurie-daily-devotions/an-unexpected-obstacle-to-prayer-greg-laurie-devotion-january-02-2026-11924572.html. Unresolved anger blocks prayers from being answered, like a wall between you and God.
The same idea shows up in Matthew 5:23-24. If you are about to offer a gift to God and remember someone has a problem with you, drop everything, go make peace, then come backhttps://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/greg-laurie-daily-devotions/an-unexpected-obstacle-to-prayer-greg-laurie-devotion-january-02-2026-11924572.html. This puts reconciliation ahead of everything else, especially when death looms and regrets pile up. Holding onto bitterness, rage, or gossip keeps your heart out of sync with God, as Paul warns in Ephesians 4:31-32. Instead, choose kindness and forgive, just as God forgives through Christhttps://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/greg-laurie-daily-devotions/an-unexpected-obstacle-to-prayer-greg-laurie-devotion-january-02-2026-11924572.html.
Prayer works here by softening hearts and opening doors to talk. It pushes you to let go of hate and reach out sincerely. The more you reconcile with estranged people, the stronger your prayers becomehttps://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/greg-laurie-daily-devotions/an-unexpected-obstacle-to-prayer-greg-laurie-devotion-january-02-2026-11924572.html. Think of it as clearing debris from a path so you can walk toward healing before its too late. Intercessory prayer, where you pray for others, also deepens bonds with God and satisfies deep needs in relationshipshttps://forgingbonds.org/blog/detail/using-the.
Stories from faith communities show this in action. One person prayed for better ways to connect and learned from Jesus example of asking questions to build understanding and lovehttps://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2025/12/4/the-spiritual-discipline-of-asking-questions. This curiosity in prayer fosters intimacy, helping mend breaks by truly seeing the other person. Even in suffering or end-of-life moments, prayer reminds us God pursues us first, as in Genesis when He calls out after rejection, offering a model for chasing reconciliationhttps://www.premierunbelievable.com/articles/why-does-god-allow-suffering/17094.article. Prayer aligns us with that pursuing love, easing distress and growing spiritual strengthhttps://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-notes/29475244.
In practice, start small. Pray for the strength to forgive, then act: send a message, make a call, or visit. Before dying, these steps through prayer can turn enemies into friends again, freeing everyone involved.
Sources
https://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/greg-laurie-daily-devotions/an-unexpected-obstacle-to-prayer-greg-laurie-devotion-january-02-2026-11924572.html
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-notes/29475244
https://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2025/12/4/the-spiritual-discipline-of-asking-questions
https://www.premierunbelievable.com/articles/why-does-god-allow-suffering/17094.article
