Are you trying to find a better way to say “I am praying for you” when talking to a non-religious person? It’s really hard to know where to start with that.
Luckily, this article will look into it and explore some alternatives that might be more suitable.
Other Ways to Say “I Am Praying for You”
- I am thinking of you
- I’m in your corner
- We’re thinking of you
- I support you
- Thoughts are with you
- Thoughts and prayers are with you
- I hope you recover soon
- I back you
- We’re rooting for you
- We believe in you
- You’ll get through this
- You’ve got all of us behind you
- We’re here to help you
- We’ll always be there for you
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “I am praying for you” works when speaking to a religious person but is not relevant to people who aren’t religious.
- For a more formal and inclusive option, try using “I am thinking of you” instead.
- You should say “I’m in your corner” informally to show you believe in someone.
There are plenty of useful synonyms showing you what to say instead of “I am praying for you.” Keep reading to learn more about the best ones in different contexts.
We’ve also included a section at the end teaching you whether “I am praying for you” is okay to say. If you’ve come specifically for that reason, you can skip to the last section.
I Am Thinking of You (Formal)
When thinking about different ways to say “I am praying for you,” “I am thinking of you” is much more suitable. It is a formal synonym showing that your thoughts are with someone in a trying time.
You should definitely use this phrase instead of “I am praying for you.” It works better because it does not assume that someone is religious and believes in the power of prayer.
“I am thinking of you” works when supporting colleagues who might be struggling mentally or emotionally. If something bad has happened recently, a phrase like this will go a long way.
We encourage sticking to “I am thinking of you” in formal writing. It can work in business emails to let someone know you back them. It is much more effective formally than “I am praying for you.”
These examples should help you to see how it works:
Dear Adam,
I am thinking of you at this difficult time. Please, let me know if I can do anything.
Yours,
Drew
Hi Clara,
Of course, I am thinking of you and your family. I hope things work out for the best.
Best wishes,
Roger
I’m in Your Corner (Informal)
“I’m in your corner” is a great informal synonym. It shows you fully support and back someone you’re close to.
You’ll find this phrase works best when supporting family members or close friends who need encouragement. It works if they’re going through a tough time or have an important event coming up.
“I’m in your corner” is a boxing metaphor, showing you fully support someone by being behind them while in the metaphorical boxing ring.
Of course, boxing metaphors aren’t all that useful formally. You should stick to “I am praying for you” or “I am thinking of you” (to remove religious connotations) in business emails. “I’m in your corner” is strictly for conversational situations.
These examples should clear up how it works:
I’m in your corner, Suzie! Go out there and show them what you can do!
Well, I’m in your corner! I always believe in you and support you regardless of what happens!
Is It Okay to Say “I Am Praying for You”?
“I am praying for you” is only okay to say when someone is religious. You should not say it when someone is not religious.
Why is it not okay when someone isn’t religious?
It’s because non-religious people do not care about praying or believing in gods. They do not think “praying for you” means anything, and it is not comforting for them to hear.
You should avoid using it in most formal and informal contexts, especially when you know you’re not speaking to religious people.
However, you can say it when addressing religious people (i.e., at church). As long as you know that people will positively respond to “praying,” you can use it.
You may also come across a more detailed variation, such as:
- Praying for you and your family
While we don’t encourage using “I am praying for you” in most contexts, there is still a time and place for it. Feel free to bookmark this page if you ever need a reminder of when that time might be.