Helpful Prayers To Comfort And Empower Grieving Hearts

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It’s not easy to understand or explain how grieving hearts truly feel.

It’s been two-and-a-half years since Rev went home to the Lord. My daughter and I were talking recently about dealing with the fact that some days it feels like it’s been five minutes, and others like it’s been five or more years.

The death of my dad in June has added exponentially to the reality of living with grief.

I can’t remember when I learned about the stages of grief, described as… denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. And although they may all be part of our grieving hearts’ process, they rarely happen in order, and reaching acceptance doesn’t mean our grieving is over or that we’re ready to move on.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run to the Lord for strength.

I’ve prayed…

The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of His understanding.
He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28–31

The Lord of all creation. Our Savior and Comforter. The Alpha and Omega knows every detail of our lives. He knows and understands our pain, and willingly gives us the power and strength we need to live each day.

Some days may be so painful that His strength is what we need to walk without giving up. Others, we may have the energy to run, and perhaps there will even be moments soaring with hope on His promises.

But whatever we need, our Lord and Savior, the everlasting God, will never abandon us.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

And by God’s grace, we can proclaim with Paul…

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Let’s pray…

A Prayer for the Grieving Heart

Father God, I know You hate sin and its awful consequences. You hate it so much that You graciously gave Jesus, who suffered and died to save us from eternal death and the power of satan. Through Jesus, we have an eternal future with You in heaven.

You know and understand every detail of our lives. You know our suffering and pain. You understand our grieving hearts.

Thank you for inviting us to come to You for courage and strength. Thank you for promising that we don’t have to live afraid of the present or the future. You are with us today and go ahead of us to guide us through the days to come.

You have faithfully given me the strength I need to keep moving forward. Thank you for Your promises that give me hope, and for the way You comfort and empower grieving hearts.

By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, I can anticipate a glorious forever future in Your presence with all who KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You. I will be with my loved ones once more, all because of Your grace, mercy, and love. All because of Jesus. In whose name I pray. Amen.

I’d also like to tell you about one more thing the Lord has used to help me through this season.

In January of 2025, I joined a GriefShare Group at my church.

GriefShare is a ministry that has been helping grieving hearts for more than 25 years … helping more than 1 million people through the painful journey that follows the loss of a loved one.

Before I attended the first session, I anticipated a “Grievers Anonymous” time of sharing. I was anxious about having to begin by saying, “Hi, my name is Deb, and I’m a widow.”

I was relieved to learn that it is more like a video-based study, and that you don’t have to talk at all if you don’t feel comfortable.

To quote the program…

In the weekly videos and workbook, you’ll meet people who’ve walked through grief and who share what was helpful for them. You’ll get practical advice and guidance from experts in grief recovery (counselors, pastors) who have experienced deep loss themselves.

The group blessed me so much that I encouraged my daughter to go with me this past January. And she was so blessed by it that she is going to join me as I lead a session that will run for 13 weeks, beginning in September.

If you have lost a loved one recently or you’re still struggling with the loss of someone from years ago, consider joining a GriefShare group in your area.

You can find out more here. You will find information about GriefShare groups online and in your area.

I would also love it if you would share this with someone you know who needs help and comfort through their journey.

The goal of GriefShare is for grieving hearts to find support, direction, and help as they learn to manage the emotions and stresses of grief.

Please add a helpful comment if you have ever attended a group after the death of someone dear to you.

May God be with you and surround you with His comfort and love.

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