4 Simple Prayers For The Grieving Heart
January 20, 2017
Easing A Grieving Heart
The shock of death can quickly rob us of our ability to think clearly. If you or someone you know is suffering from a grieving heart, here are 4 simple prayers to help bring peace.
Sudden Loss
Our world has been shaken. My husband’s older brother and only sibling, Ken, dropped dead in his bathroom. We still don’t know why. While we wait on autopsy results, we shake our heads in disbelief at how someone who appeared to be the picture of health could just die so suddenly.
My husband and I, his parents, his children, extended family and many friends are all flooded with grief. We have great joy in knowing Ken is with Jesus enjoying the best days of his eternal life. We celebrate our hope of joining him there. Meanwhile we miss him greatly.
[rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"]
Grieving together is not new to our family. Ken’s oldest daughter, Leigh Ann, died ten years ago after a tragic car accident. So we smile through our tears knowing that father and daughter are completely whole and reunited in the presence of our Lord.
RELATED: 4 Lies Satan Will Use To Try To Deceive You In Times Of Darkness
A Loss Of Words
The shock of death seems to steal our breath and with it our ability to think clearly. I’ve noticed that it has been hard for me to think of how to pray for the people I love so dearly and myself. I’m thankful that my faith is deeper than my grief. I’m so much more thankful that God knows precisely how our brains function in times like these and He has mercifully given us the Holy Spirit to pray for us.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings
that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26b NLT).
I see in Romans 8:26, God’s deep compassion for us. I imagine the Spirit so filled with love for us, knowing our weakness in grief and relentlessly praying so that we can experience God’s comfort.
I am documenting the following Scripture prayers so that you and I both can find them when tragedy strikes and we can’t find our way through the fog of grief to the words we want to pray.
RELATED: How To Pray The Psalms For Comfort During Grief
4 Prayers For A Grieving Heart
Note: You can reword these into prayers for those who are grieving and don’t feel like they can pray for themselves.
Declarations of Faith
[caption id="attachment_34184" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Credit: ThinkStock[/caption]You are Immanuel, God with me. Thank You for being with me now as I mourn the loss of _________. Isaiah 7:14
You are the God of all Comfort and I willingly receive Your comfort now. I do not know what Your comfort will look like or feel like, but I trust it even so. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Isaiah 66:13, Isaiah 49:13
My heart is broken but You are near. My spirit is crushed, but You are my rescuer. Psalm 34:18
Your Word is my hope. It revives me and comforts me in especially now. Psalm 119:50
RELATED: This Prayer For Inner Peace Comes In Handy When Life Gets Crazy
My soul faints, but you are the breath of life within me. Job 33:4, Ezekiel 37
You are my help, the One who sustains me. I am weak but You are strong. Psalm 54:4
You bless those who mourn, and I trust You to bless me and my family with all that we need. Matthew 5:4
You will rescue me from this dark cloud of despair because You delight in me. Psalm 18:19
Thanksgiving
Thank You Lord for providing people to weep with me. Romans 12:15
Thank You Lord for surrounding me with Your goodness and mercy even today as I grieve. Psalm 23:6
I trust that You are my source of joy and I will not weep forever. Psalm 30:5
I’m thankful, Lord, that You have not hidden Your face from me. Thank You for hearing me when I cry to You. Psalm 22:24
Lord, I am thankful that You know what I need before I ask You. Matthew 6:8
Thank You, Lord, for being my strength and my shield. Psalm 28:7a
Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to cast my anxieties on You. 1 Peter 5:7
Petition
[caption id="attachment_34188" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Credit: ThinkStock[/caption]
Here’s my broken heart, Lord. I need Your healing touch. Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 61:1
I am weary and heavy-laden and in great need of rest from You, Lord. Matthew 11:28, Psalm 62:1
Protect me from the evil one and his offerings of depression and anxiety. Hide me under the shadow of Your wing. Psalm 17:8
For Your name’s sake, deliver me from thoughts of weakness, hopelessness and helplessness. Psalm 109:21-22
When my heart sinks low, send Your word and heal me, Lord. Psalm 107:20
Help me, Lord, not to panic and make unwise decisions. I need Your help to be still and acknowledge You as my source of my wisdom and stability. Psalm 46:10
Help me to guard my heart, Lord, so that I am not easily offended by people who say the wrong things or avoid me because they are not sure what to say. Proverbs 4:23
Help me, Lord, to receive Your comfort from the people who are drawing near to me. I do not want to dismiss Your servants who bring me Your comfort. Romans 12:15
My mind feels like fog and then sometimes it is a whirlwind. Guide my thoughts with Your counsel, Lord. Psalm 73:23-24
Deliver me, Lord, from the fear of _________. Psalm 34:4
[rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"]
Praying with Songs
Sometimes it is hard to find the strength to voice our prayers. In those moments, we can listen to the following songs with a “yes, Lord” in our hearts.
Here is a YouTube playlist of prayers for the grieving heart. You can let these songs bypass your unsettled mind and begin to nurture your soul with God’s truth about who He is to you and who you are to Him.
Related Video: What Did Jesus Mean When He Promised Us an Abundant Life?
Jennifer O. White is the author of Prayers for New Brides: Putting on God's Armor After the Wedding Dress and Marriage Armor for the Praying Bride. She knows firsthand the power of praying God's Word when fighting for your marriage. Follow her blog at Prayerfully Speaking for prayer inspiration and a renewal of your faith to believe God is able to do more than you can ask or imagine.
Credit: iBelieve
Prayers to Encourage Your Christian Life
This article is part of a series of prayers that are published on GodUpdates. Here are more posts about prayers that we thought you might like!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
- Rock Singer's Powerful Rendition of 'I Will Always Love You'
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.