FeelingGreat

Hi everyone, how do you handle someones request for prayers if you're not a believer but you want to show support? Or if everyone else is saying the 'thoughts and prayers' thing?

I mainly encounter this on SR. In Australia, outside religious circles it would be a bit awkward to introduce personal beliefs into the conversation, so I don't have much practice or ready-made set of words to say.

The best I have come up with is 'thinking of you' which sounds a bit weak.

SimplyFree

You could say wishing you the best possible recovery! Wishing you strength and wisdom. Those types of responses are nice and sincere. Like you have alluded to prayer holds a distinct difference in that when we speak to God or our higher power we are invoking something stronger than good thoughts or wishes. I find prayer to be very helpful. I wish you well and you have my prayers also if you like.
Blessings!

Dee74

'best wishes' or 'thinking of you' works.

D

shockozulu

“Sending positive thoughts your way” or “Keeping you in my thoughts” is what I use. Although I’m religious many of my friends are agnostic or atheist so I use either of these terms to avoid hard feelings.

RecklessEric

People who know me would know not to ask me to pray for them.
But I often tell people I'll be thinking of them.

I think it's good to follow up with a text which doesn't ask a question.
Just "Hope you're ok. Thinking of you".

andyh

"may The Force be with you"