Prayer For Burying Ashes
God, life seems so bleak and useless right now. I don't have any energy. I have no ambition to do much of anything. I am really feeling down. I feel "down on" myself and "down on" everyone around me. Even as I pray, I don't sense your presence. I am going through the motions, knowing that you are still with me.
I know that I am sacred and precious but they are just words right now. I know that my life has been worthwhile, full of many wonderful people and experiences, much happiness and joy. I feel little of this right now. God, all I can do is affirm the goodness of life and try to hold on until the darkness is replaced by your light and love.
Help me to spot the lies that my depressed emotions are telling me. Life is good. I am good. You are good. Grant me hope. My loved ones love me. Life will be beautiful again. Soon, I will see the beauty around me again. Soon, I will again know vitality and purpose, happiness and love. Until then, give me the strength and hope to survive this day.
Help me to smile and laugh, even if just for a moment. Be my strength and salvation. I ask you to restore me and make me whole. Fill me with the Word and the Spirit that I might be recreated anew. I praise and thank you. Amen.
Heavenly Father, Your Word says that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ no trial or tribulation. We are more than conquerors through You who have loved us. Not even death, nor life nor angels, nor rulers, nor things to come, nor any other created thing. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Although right now I am experiencing this painful situation, I pray that during this burial of ashes, I find my peace in knowing that Your everlasting love will always be with me, Amen.
Lord help us right now in this difficult time. Although the righteous perish, help us to not carry the pain within our heart. The righteous are taken away to spare them from evil so help us remember that these are the ashes of an individual in a place of everlasting peace. I thank You for Your Word that offers the comfort that we need right now. I thank You for ensuring that the righteous find rest when they lie in death, Amen.
Hear my cry oh Lord, my heart is troubled right now, but I believe in You. I believe that You have many rooms in Your house in heaven for us. If that were not so, You would not have sent Your Son to tell Your people this. Your Word also declares that because of this truth, You will come back and take us to be with You. So, during this burial of ashes, help my heart find comfort in knowing that even in death, You are with us, Amen.
Righteous God, there is a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die. Help my mind to comprehend this as I struggle to deal with the reality of death. There is a time to plant, a time to kill, to heal, to tear down, to build, to laugh and even to cry. There is a time to mourn, but there is also a time to dance. I pray for strength in this season, Amen.
Oh Lord, I know that You died and rose again so that those who have fallen asleep can be brought back to You through Jesus. I thank You for the day when You will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and the sound of the trumpet of God to rise up all those who are asleep in Christ. During this burial of ashes, I know that death is not the end for Your chosen people and for this we rejoice, Amen.
Eternal God, thank You for Your unconditional love towards us. It is because of Your love that I can come to You in my weary and burdened state. I choose to take up Your yoke so that I can learn from You. Father help me to learn from You because You are gentle and humble in heart. During the burial of ashes of (persons' name), I pray that my soul will find rest in You because Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light, Amen.
Blessed be Your Name Holy Father! Your Word declares that You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort! Lord right now I need Your divine comfort in this difficult time. But I know that in any grief or affliction I face, You are the true and permanent comfort. Neither the world nor people can comfort me like You do. Thank You for Your love and protection! Thank You for seeing me in my pain and being my solution, Amen.