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Japanese Jealousy can be handed to God in one sentence: “Lord, I am jealous of [name]. Take the bitterness out of me, help me to be glad for what you have given [him or her], and make me content with what you have given me. Amen.” Proverbs calls envy “the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30).
Jealousy and envy: are they the same?
In ordinary English the two words overlap, but they name different fears. Envy wants what another person has: a job, a house, a talent, a child. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines it as “the sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself, even unjustly” (paragraph 2539). Jealousy is the fear of losing what one already has, most often a person’s love. The Song of Solomon says that “jealousy is cruel as the grave” (Song of Solomon 8:6), and Proverbs warns that “jealousy is the rage of a man” (Proverbs 6:34).
Scripture does not treat every kind of jealousy as sin. God calls himself “a jealous God” who will not share his people with idols (Exodus 34:14), and Paul told the Corinthians, “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy” (2 Corinthians 11:2). That jealousy guards a covenant. The New Testament condemns envy outright: Paul lists “emulations” and “Envyings” among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20–21), and “charity envieth not” (1 Corinthians 13:4). The question of when jealousy becomes sin is taken up in Is jealousy a sin?
Prayers when you are the jealous one
When a friend or a sister gets what you wanted
Lord, [name] has what I prayed for, and I cannot bring myself to be happy for [him or her]. Forgive me. Help me to “rejoice with them that do rejoice” (Romans 12:15) and to mean it when I say congratulations. Keep this from spoiling a friendship you gave me. Amen.
When comparing yourself with others will not stop
Father, I keep measuring my life against other people’s: their homes, their looks, their families, the pictures they post. Every comparison leaves me poorer. Turn my eyes back to what is in front of me, and teach me what Paul learned: “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Amen.
When a colleague is promoted over you
Lord, the promotion went to someone else, and I resent it. Keep me honest at work while this feeling lasts. Do not let me run [name] down to others or hope that [he or she] fails. Show me what I can learn, and give me patience about my own work. Amen.
When you want what belongs to someone else
God, you said, “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17), and I am coveting. I want what is not mine. Loosen my grip on this wish before it turns into a plan, and let me see the good you have already put in my life. Amen.
When jealousy wants to hurt someone
Lord, the anger in me is dangerous. Cain’s envy of his brother ended in murder, and you warned him first: “sin lieth at the door” (Genesis 4:7). Stop me at the door. Keep my words and my hands from harming [name], and take this anger away before I act on it. Amen.
Envy has a long record in Scripture. Joseph’s brothers “envied him” (Genesis 37:11) and sold him. Rachel “envied her sister” Leah, who had children when she had none (Genesis 30:1). Saul heard women sing that David had killed ten thousands to his thousands, “And Saul eyed David from that day and forward” (1 Samuel 18:9). Mark records that Pilate knew “the chief priests had delivered him for envy” (Mark 15:10).
Prayers for jealousy in a marriage or relationship
When you are jealous of your husband, wife or partner
Lord, I am suspicious of the one I love, and much of it comes from my own fear, not from anything [he or she] has done. Show me the difference. Quiet my imagination, keep me from checking and accusing, and heal the insecurity underneath it. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). Amen.
For a husband who is jealous
Father, my husband is jealous, and it is wearing us both down. Take away the fear that drives it. Help him to trust me, and help me to give him no honest reason for doubt. Let it be said of our marriage, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her” (Proverbs 31:11). Amen.
For a wife who is jealous
Lord, my wife is afraid of losing me, and her jealousy is hurting us both. Show me where I have been careless with her trust, and help me to put it right. Give her peace when I am away from her, and give us both patience with each other. Amen.
After a real betrayal
God, the jealousy I feel has a cause: I was lied to. Heal what was broken, if it can be healed. Give the one who hurt me a true change of heart, and give me the grace to forgive without pretending nothing happened. Show us whether trust can be rebuilt, and how. Amen.
If your partner’s jealousy has become control, such as checking your phone, cutting you off from friends and family, threats or violence, that is abuse, and you should get help as well as pray. In the US, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. In England, call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247; in Scotland, 0800 027 1234; in Wales, Live Fear Free on 0808 80 10 100; in Northern Ireland, 0808 802 1414. If you are in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. There are also more Christian and crisis lines.
The Orthodox saints for troubled marriages
Orthodox Christians ask the prayers of the martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus (also spelled Habibus) of Edessa for peace in a marriage. The Orthodox Church in America records that Gurias and Samonas were beheaded in the persecution under Diocletian and Maximian, and that the deacon Abibus was burned alive under Licinius. It also tells how a Gothic soldier swore at their graves never to harm his bride Euphemia, then took her home to a wife he already had, where she was abused and her infant son was poisoned by the jealous first wife. Euphemia prayed to the three martyrs and was brought back to Edessa. The Orthodox Church in America says that Orthodox Christians ask their help “from family turmoil, and from marital difficulties, especially where one spouse hates the other without cause.” Asking saints for their prayers is Catholic and Orthodox practice; most Protestant churches do not follow it.
A prayer for people who are jealous of you
Lord, [name] resents me, and I can feel it in every conversation. Guard me from the harm [his or her] envy could do, and guard me from answering it with pride or spite. If I have boasted or been careless, show me. Bless [name] with good things of [his or her] own, so that [he or she] has no reason to want mine. Amen.
David was the target of Saul’s envy for years. When he had the chance to kill Saul in a cave, he refused: “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master” (1 Samuel 24:6). Joseph, years after his brothers sold him, told them, “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). Orthodox prayer books also pray for protection from envy. In the prayers for a mother on the first day after she has given birth, the priest asks God to preserve her “from jealousy and envy, and from the evil eye.”
People sometimes look for a prayer to make a partner jealous. No traditional Christian prayer asks God for that, and Paul counts “provoking one another, envying one another” among the things believers must stop (Galatians 5:26).
Prayers against envy from the old prayer books
The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls envy “a capital sin” (paragraph 2539), and its remedy is to “rejoice in your brother’s progress” (paragraph 2540). This prayer, from the Manual of Prayers prepared by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, asks for that grace.
O most loving Jesus, Pattern of charity, who makest all the commandments of the law to consist in love towards God and towards man, grant to us so to love Thee with all our heart, with all our mind, and all our soul, and our neighbor for Thy sake, that the grace of charity and brotherly love may dwell in us, and all envy, harshness, and ill-will may die in us; and fill our hearts with feelings of love, kindness, and compassion, so that by constantly rejoicing in the happiness and success of others, by sympathizing with them in their sorrows, and putting away all harsh judgments and envious thoughts, we may follow Thee, who art Thyself the true and perfect love. Amen.
A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), Prayers against the Seven Deadly Sins, “Against Envy,” p. 297
The Litany in the Book of Common Prayer names envy among the sins from which the whole congregation asks to be delivered.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,
Good Lord, deliver us.The Book of Common Prayer (1928), The Litany, p. 54
The same book’s Family Prayer for the evening includes this petition.
And lest, through our own frailty, or the temptations which encompass us, we be drawn again into sin, vouchsafe us, we beseech thee, the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit. Reform whatever is amiss in the temper and disposition of our souls; that no unclean thoughts, unlawful designs, or inordinate desires, may rest there. Purge our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice; that we may never suffer the sun to go down upon our wrath; but may always go to our rest in peace, charity, and good-will, with a conscience void of offence towards thee, and towards men; that so we may be preserved pure and blameless, unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Family Prayer, Evening Prayer, “Prayer for Grace to reform and grow Better,” p. 590
Many more passages on envy and contentment are gathered in Bible verses about jealousy. Psalm 73 is the prayer of a man who confessed, “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3). By the end of the psalm he could say, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Psalm 73:25).
Prayer for a Grateful Heart
Jealousy often starts when we forget to count our own blessings. We see what others have and feel like we’re missing out. This prayer is about asking God to help us see and appreciate all the good things He has already given us. A grateful heart doesn’t have much room for jealousy.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to You today because my heart is troubled by feelings of jealousy. I find myself looking at what others possess or achieve, and it makes me feel discontented with my own life. I know this is not Your will for me.
Please, Lord, help me to change my focus. Open my eyes to see the many blessings You have already poured into my life – the big ones and the small ones that I often overlook. Forgive me for taking Your goodness for granted.
Fill me with a spirit of thankfulness. Help me to cultivate a grateful heart that rejoices in Your provisions and Your daily mercies. When I am tempted to compare or feel envious, remind me of all the reasons I have to be thankful. Transform my perspective, Lord, so that gratitude becomes my first response.
Thank You for Your patience with me and Your unending love. Help me to find joy in what I have, rather than longing for what belongs to others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Having a grateful heart is a powerful weapon against jealousy. When we focus on thanking God for our own blessings, we are less likely to be envious of others. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This practice can truly change our outlook.
Prayer for Contentment in God’s Plan
Jealousy often whispers that God has been better to others than He has been to us. We might question His plan and fairness. This prayer is about asking God for contentment, which means being satisfied and at peace with where He has us and what He has given us, trusting that His plan is perfect.
Dear Lord,
My heart is restless, and I confess that I struggle with jealousy. I see the paths of others, their successes and possessions, and I begin to doubt Your goodness and Your plan for my own life. Forgive me for this lack of faith and trust.
I ask You, Father, to fill me with a deep sense of contentment. Help me to understand and accept that Your plan for me is unique and perfectly designed for my good and Your glory. Remove the desire to have what others have or to walk in their shoes.
Teach me to find joy in the journey You have set before me, with all its specific blessings and challenges. Help me to trust that You are working all things together for my good, even when I don’t understand. Let Your peace guard my heart and mind, anchoring me in the assurance of Your love and provision.
May I learn to be content in every situation, knowing that You are with me and that You will provide all I truly need.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Finding contentment in God’s plan is key to overcoming jealousy. It means trusting that God knows what’s best for us, even if it’s different from what others have. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-12, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
Prayer to Overcome Comparison
Comparing ourselves to others is a quick way to feel jealous. We look at someone else’s strengths, possessions, or life and feel like we don’t measure up. This prayer asks God to help us stop this harmful habit and to see ourselves as He sees us.
Heavenly Father,
I confess that I spend too much time comparing myself to others. I look at their lives, their talents, their looks, or their belongings, and I feel inadequate or envious. This habit steals my joy and makes me focus on what I lack instead of what You have given me.
Lord, please help me to break free from this cycle of comparison. Teach me to see myself through Your eyes, as a unique and valuable creation. Remind me that You have a specific purpose for my life, different from anyone else’s.
Help me to celebrate my own journey and the gifts You have entrusted to me. When the temptation to compare arises, give me the strength to turn my thoughts back to You and Your truth. Fill my heart with gratitude for who I am in Christ, rather than longing to be like someone else.
I want to run my own race, the one You have set before me, with focus and joy, not looking to the left or right with envy.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Overcoming comparison is a vital step in conquering jealousy. When we stop measuring ourselves against others, we can start appreciating our God-given uniqueness. Galatians 6:4 reminds us, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”
Prayer for Trusting God’s Timing
Sometimes jealousy comes from seeing others get what we’re still waiting for. We might feel like God is slow or has forgotten us. This prayer is about asking God to help us trust His perfect timing for everything in our lives.
Dear God,
I come to You today with a heart that struggles with patience and trust. I see others receiving blessings that I long for, and I confess that it sometimes makes me feel jealous and anxious about my own future. I question Your timing and wonder if You have forgotten my desires.
Please forgive me for my impatience, Lord. Help me to fully trust in Your perfect timing. Remind me that You see the bigger picture and that Your schedule is always best, even when I cannot understand it. Teach me to wait with grace and hope.
Strengthen my faith so that I can rest in the assurance that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Help me to use this waiting period to grow closer to You and to prepare for the good things You have in store. May I not be envious of those who are in a different season but trust that my season will come according to Your will.
Fill me with peace as I wait on You, knowing You make all things beautiful in Your time.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Trusting God’s timing helps protect our hearts from jealousy. It reminds us that God has a unique timeline for each person, and His timing is always perfect. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Prayer to Celebrate Others’ Blessings
Jealousy makes it hard to be happy for others when good things happen to them. Instead of rejoicing, we might feel a sting of envy. This prayer is about asking God to change our hearts so we can genuinely celebrate the blessings of others.
Lord God,
I confess that sometimes when I see others being blessed, a part of me feels jealous instead of joyful. I know this is not the loving response You desire from me. It creates distance and spoils the unity You want for Your children.
Please, Father, transform my heart. Remove the roots of envy and replace them with a spirit of genuine happiness for others. Help me to rejoice with those who rejoice, to truly celebrate their successes, their breakthroughs, and Your goodness in their lives.
Teach me to see their blessings not as something taken from me, but as a demonstration of Your abundant generosity that is available to all Your children. Help me to remember that Your goodness to others does not mean there is less for me.
May my first reaction to someone else’s good news be praise to You and sincere joy for them. Let love guide my feelings and actions towards everyone around me.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Learning to celebrate others’ blessings is a powerful antidote to jealousy. It reflects a heart that is secure in God’s love and provision. Romans 12:15 instructs us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” This practice fosters love and humility, pushing out envious thoughts.
Prayer for Finding Worth in Christ
Often, jealousy comes from a place of insecurity. We feel we are not good enough, so we envy what others have or who they are, thinking those things will make us feel worthy. This prayer is about asking God to help us find our true worth and identity in Jesus Christ alone.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You acknowledging that feelings of jealousy often stem from my own insecurities and a misplaced sense of worth. I look at others and feel less valuable, less loved, or less capable. Forgive me for seeking my value in worldly things or in comparison to others.
Lord, please help me to fully grasp and believe who I am in Christ. Remind me that I am Your child, fearfully and wonderfully made, and deeply loved by You. Help me understand that my worth is not determined by my achievements, possessions, or how I measure up to others, but by Your unconditional love and the sacrifice of Jesus.
Root my identity so deeply in You that the successes or attributes of others do not diminish my own sense of value. When I am tempted to feel jealous because of insecurity, draw me back to the truth of Your Word. Let me find all my affirmation and significance in You.
Thank You for making me precious in Your sight.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Finding our worth in Christ is foundational to overcoming jealousy. When we know we are deeply loved and valued by God, we are less likely to feel threatened or diminished by others. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Knowing this gives us true security.
Prayer to Release Covetous Desires
Coveting means strongly wanting something that belongs to someone else. It’s a direct cause of jealousy and is warned against in the Bible. This prayer is about asking God to help us let go of these unhealthy desires and to be satisfied with His provision.
Gracious Father,
I confess to You that my heart is sometimes filled with covetous desires. I see what others have – their homes, their relationships, their talents, their opportunities – and I find myself wanting those things for myself, sometimes with an unhealthy longing that leads to jealousy and discontent.
Forgive me, Lord, for this sin. Your Word clearly warns against coveting, and I know it displeases You and harms my own soul. I ask You to purify my heart and my desires. Help me to release these longings for what is not mine.
Teach me to desire what You desire for me. Help me to focus on seeking Your kingdom and Your righteousness above all else, trusting that You will provide everything I truly need. Replace my covetous thoughts with gratitude for what You have given me and with a desire to use my own gifts for Your glory.
Guard my heart from envy and fill me with satisfaction in You alone.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Releasing covetous desires is crucial for overcoming jealousy because it tackles the problem at its root. When we stop wanting what isn’t rightfully ours, peace can take root. Luke 12:15 warns, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Prayer for a Spirit of Generosity
Jealousy is a self-focused emotion. It’s about what I don’t have. A spirit of generosity, on the other hand, is outward-focused. This prayer asks God to help us become more generous, which can crowd out feelings of envy.
Lord God, Giver of all good gifts,
I come to You because I want to break free from the grip of jealousy. I know that a selfish heart is more likely to feel envious, while a generous heart finds joy in giving and blessing others.
Please cultivate in me a true spirit of generosity. Help me to be willing to share my time, my resources, and my talents without expecting anything in return. Remove any stinginess or fear of lack that holds me back from being open-handed.
Teach me the joy of giving and the blessing of being a channel of Your love to others. As I learn to focus more on the needs of those around me and how I can contribute to their well-being, I pray that the space for jealousy in my heart will shrink.
Help me to be like You, Lord, for You give generously to all. May my life reflect Your kindness and abundance, rather than the narrowness of envy.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Developing a spirit of generosity is a wonderful way to combat jealousy. When we are focused on giving and blessing others, we have less time and energy for envious thoughts. As 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Prayer for Peace Over Envy
Envy, a close cousin of jealousy, can steal our peace and leave us feeling agitated and unhappy. This prayer is about asking God to replace those feelings of envy with His supernatural peace that passes all understanding.
Prince of Peace,
My heart is not at peace. I confess that feelings of envy and jealousy rise up within me when I look at what others have or what they have achieved. These feelings rob me of joy and contentment, and I know they are not from You.
I ask You, Lord, to calm the turmoil in my soul. Pour out Your divine peace over my troubled thoughts and emotions. Guard my heart and mind against the torment of envy. Help me to release the anxieties and comparisons that fuel these negative feelings.
Let Your peace, which transcends all understanding, rule in my heart. Help me to focus on Your presence and Your promises, rather than on what others possess. May I find my rest and security in You alone, knowing that You are in control and that Your plans for me are good.
Replace the bitterness of envy with the sweet comfort of Your peace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Seeking God’s peace is essential when battling envy and jealousy. His peace can guard our hearts and minds in a way that worldly solutions cannot. Philippians 4:7 promises, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer for Renewing the Mind
Jealousy often begins with our thoughts. We entertain comparative, covetous, or resentful thoughts that then grow into feelings. This prayer is about asking God to help us renew our minds, changing our thought patterns to align with His truth.
Heavenly Father,
I recognize that my struggle with jealousy often begins in my mind. Negative thoughts of comparison, discontent, and envy take root and influence my feelings and actions. I need Your help to change the way I think.
Your Word tells me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. So, I ask You, Lord, to help me identify and reject thoughts that lead to jealousy. Help me to capture every ungodly thought and make it obedient to Christ.
Fill my mind with Your truth, Your love, and Your perspective. Help me to meditate on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. As my mind is renewed, may my heart be transformed, and may jealousy lose its power over me.
Teach me to think in ways that honor You and build others up, rather than tearing them down in my thoughts out of envy.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Renewing our minds is a powerful, proactive way to fight jealousy. By changing our thoughts, we can change our feelings and reactions. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Prayer for Love to Conquer Jealousy
The Bible says that “love does not envy.” Jealousy and true, godly love cannot coexist. This prayer asks God to fill us with His kind of love, which desires the best for others and rejoices in their well-being, effectively pushing out jealousy.
Lord of Love,
My heart is struggling with jealousy, and I know this is not in line with Your greatest commandment to love. Jealousy feels like the opposite of love; it is self-centered and does not rejoice in the good fortune of others.
I ask You, Father, to pour Your perfect love into my heart by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to love others as You love them – unconditionally and selflessly. Teach me what it means to have a love that is patient and kind, a love that does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud.
When I am tempted to feel jealous, help me to respond with love instead. Help me to genuinely desire the best for others, to pray for their well-being, and to celebrate their successes. May Your love in me be so strong that it overcomes and casts out all traces of jealousy.
Let my life be a reflection of Your love, which builds up and never tears down.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Allowing God’s love to fill us is perhaps the most powerful way to overcome jealousy. Love seeks the good of others and doesn’t leave room for envy. As 1 Corinthians 13:4 states, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” This is the standard we aim for with God’s help.
Prayer for Strength Against Temptation to Be Jealous
Jealousy often presents itself as a strong temptation, especially when we see others getting things we desire. We need God’s strength to recognize this temptation and resist it. This prayer is a plea for divine help to stand firm against the urge to be jealous.
Almighty God,
I come to You because I am weak and I face the temptation to be jealous. There are times when the desire to envy others, to resent their blessings, or to wish for what they have feels overwhelming. I know these feelings do not honor You.
Lord, I ask for Your strength to resist this temptation. When thoughts of jealousy begin to creep into my mind, help me to recognize them as a lure away from Your peace and contentment. Give me the power to turn away from these thoughts and to choose instead to focus on You and Your goodness.
Remind me that You provide a way out of every temptation. Help me to find that way and to walk in it. Strengthen my resolve to live a life free from the bitterness of jealousy. Fill me with Your Spirit, so that I can overcome the desires of my sinful nature and walk in victory.
Thank You that I don’t have to fight this battle alone.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Recognizing jealousy as a temptation and seeking God’s strength to fight it is key to gaining victory. We are not left to struggle alone. 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
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