Prayer For Comfort In Grief
Father, I come to you with the broken pieces of my heart.
Where else can I go?
Give ear to my words, and consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help. I come to you, my King and my God. I know you hear me and I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:1-3)
Lord, who knew a person could cry so many tears?
I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. I am weak with sorrow. (Psalm 6:6-7)
You know me. You know me better than I know myself all of my emotions, my fear, my deep missing, my despair. I bring all of it to you.
You've collected every one of my tears in a bottle and recorded each one in your book. (Psalm 56:8)
Lord, I need the comfort only you can give. I need strength to get through this day and to take care of the tasks ahead of me. I need you to be my strength, to help me make decisions, to show me what to do today and what to let go. Sustain me as I walk through this valley of the shadow of death.
I have so many worries. Who knew grief could stir up so much fear? It's paralyzing me and keeping me from moving forward. I need you desperately, Lord. Thank you for being with me and for going before me every step of this journey. Thank you that you will never leave me and never forsake me and that your promises are true and you will be forever faithful to me. Help me trust your promises over the lies the enemy feeds me. I trust you Lord, because you are good and you do good. (Psalm 119:68)
Take my despair Father and restore to me the joy of my salvation. (Psalm 51:12). Lift my head. You are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts my head. (Psalm 3:3) Help me see your good today. Give me eyes to see you working in me and all around me, to know that you are hemming me in behind and before. I trust that you have a hope and a future for me, even when I can't feel it and my emotions are telling me different.
And as long as my heart is broken, Father, clean it out. I confess to you my great sin and selfishness and demanding heart and rebellion. Forgive me. Thank you for your grace and for your mercy. Thank you for loving me and for your patience. Help me see my sin for what it is and to turn from it. Help me to love others like you love them, to be humble, to wake up ready to serve and obey wherever you lead me. Do this in me, Lord, because I cannot do it myself.
But I want you. I don't want to miss any of what you have for me and so I beg you to teach me, to open my eyes to you and to give me your heart and your mind.
My broken heart lies before you Lord and I can't fix it. It hurts and this is hard. But I trust that you can fix it. I trust that you are holding me and that you will bring me through. I love you. Help me to love you more.
In Jesus' holy name, I bring these requests to your throne and wait for you, Amen.
Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are grieving...
They're hurting for many reasons, and I ask You to help them through this season of loss. I reach out to You, the Father of compassion and the Source of every comfort, asking You to touch them with Your unfailing love and kindness. Be their God who comforts them as they're going through their struggles, and bring them through the tough things ahead. Come alongside them in their pain, and strengthen them so they'll one day be able to help others who face the same struggles. (2 Corinthians 1:34; Psalm 33:22; 1 Samuel 20:14a)
You're close to people whose hearts are breaking, those who are discouraged and have given up hope. May You who see their troubles and grief respond when they cry out. (Psalm 34:18; 10:14a, 17)
When they're hurting, help them find their joy in You, for it's Your joy that will be their strength. Help them to trust You as their God of hope. Fill them with Your joy, peace, and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help them experience the love, joy, and peace that are the results of His life in them, no matter what they're going through. (Nehemiah 8:10b; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22)
May they sense Your presence in this hour of need. In Jesus' name, Amen
Jesus, You said, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4, NIV). I am mourning; send me Your comfort now. Wrap around Your arms around me and hold me tight. Send angels of mercy to me. Shower Your comfort on me through those around me, and keep far from me those whose words and actions are no comfort. Amen.
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief (Psalm 31:9, NIV). My heart is broken, my mind exhausted. I cry out to you and hardly know what to ask. All I can do is tell you how I feel and ask you to keep track of all my sorrows. . . . [collect] all my tears in your bottle. . . . [and record] each one in your book as I pour them out to you (Psalm 56:8, NLT). Amen.
O Lord, my God, thank you that you are my rock and fortress, I can always find refuge in you. You have said that whoever follows you will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. As I feel the darkness of grief and sorrow at this time, shine your light on my life. Remind me that my hope is found in you. May your love surround me, your Spirit guide me, your voice cheer me, your peace calm me, your shield protect me, your wisdom arm me, wherever you may lead me. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Grief and sadness can put you in a state of depression. Lift yourself up from the depths of despair with a prayer filled with hope and promise.
"Dear God, you know my heart. You know the sadness that fills it. You recognize how my grief has pushed all other emotions aside and weighs heavily on me. See me, God. Hear me, God. Please help me to accept that my [loved one's role] was called home so soon. Remove my anger and replace it with a greater acceptance of your will. I pray for your healing of my endless sadness and constant grief that prevents me from living. Help me to see the good in my life and refocus my attention on my family. Guide me to find new ways to cope with my loss that will renew my soul and refill my heart with your eternal love. Amen."
Life seems to stand still when you are overwhelmed with grief and loss. You can emerge from your grief through prayer and the help of God.
"The world has grown quiet since her/his voice has been silenced. Please help me rise above my sorrow, oh God. Imbue my spirit with your loving kindness and comfort. Fill my soul with your everlasting love. Send your angels to lift me up, oh God, so they can reveal your glory to me once more. Amen."
Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are grieving...
They're hurting for many reasons, and I ask You to help them through this season of loss. I reach out to You, the Father of compassion and the Source of every comfort, asking You to touch them with Your unfailing love and kindness. Be their God who comforts them as they're going through their struggles, and bring them through the tough things ahead. Come alongside them in their pain, and strengthen them so they'll one day be able to help others who face the same struggles. (2 Corinthians 1:34; Psalm 33:22; 1 Samuel 20:14a)
You're close to people whose hearts are breaking, those who are discouraged and have given up hope. May You who see their troubles and grief respond when they cry out. (Psalm 34:18; 10:14a, 17)
When they're hurting, help them find their joy in You, for it's Your joy that will be their strength. Help them to trust You as their God of hope. Fill them with Your joy, peace, and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help them experience the love, joy, and peace that are the results of His life in them, no matter what they're going through. (Nehemiah 8:10b; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22)
May they sense Your presence in this hour of need. In Jesus' name, Amen.