Learning to take comfort when a friend says, ‘I’m praying for you’

When you live with a disease like myasthenia gravis (MG), the unexplainable becomes part of daily life. Symptoms appear without warning, flares derail plans, and a diagnosis can feel unfair, no matter how long you’ve lived with it.

Religion is one of the oldest ways humans have tried to make sense of the unexplainable, but for a long time, I bristled when my Christian friends told me they were praying for me or encouraged me to “give it to God.” It felt like they were projecting their beliefs onto me or assuming I needed “saving.”

I’m not religious in the traditional sense. I don’t believe in the Christian God, and I don’t follow a specific doctrine or religion. My spirituality lives in nature — the quiet steadiness of trees, the song of the birds, the rhythm of the seasons, the way the sunlight filters through the leaves and warms my skin. That’s my church.

But eventually, I got tired of always being annoyed and on edge about my religious friends’ expressions of faith, and I decided to step back and try to look at these interactions more objectively.

Recommended Reading

Aug. 12, 2026 News by Marisa Horak, MS

Approved infusion therapy offers fast relief from severe MG flares

Faith and hope

I came to realize they weren’t trying to convert me. They weren’t being zealots. They were offering comfort in the only language they knew, the language of their faith. For them, prayer is an act of love. Saying “give it to God” is their way of telling me, “you don’t have to carry this alone.” Once I got over myself and understood their intention, my irritation softened into gratitude.

Now, when someone says they’re praying for me, I thank them. When they tell me to give it to God, I hear the deeper message: Don’t dwell on what’s outside your control.

Faith, whether religious, spiritual, or philosophical, is one way people cope with the chaos of illness. It is a framework for hope, a way to anchor fear, or a method of releasing what feels too heavy. Even if someone’s beliefs don’t match your own, I believe their attempt to comfort you is still an act of connection.

When someone uses their faith to offer support, it can be an opportunity instead of a point of tension. Ask them how their beliefs help them through hard times. Share your own worldview, whether it’s spiritual, secular, or rooted in nature like mine. And if they push back? I choose to believe it’s because they’re trying to understand and not judge. Maybe that’s the hopeful romantic in me, but I’ve found that assuming good intentions leads to better conversations.

I don’t rely on faith to cope with MG. I rely on this — writing, sharing my journey, and inviting conversation. Because without conversation, there can be no understanding. Without understanding, compassion can’t grow. Without compassion, peace is hard to find. And without peace, happiness becomes a moving target.

Faith doesn’t have to divide us. Sometimes it’s simply someone reaching out, trying to hand you a little comfort in the way they know and understand best. And let’s be real, in a life shaped by MG, comfort in any form is something worth acknowledging and accepting.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.