A Christian prayer for strength when grieving is what we need most as we go through one of life’s debilitating crises.
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 NIV
And a prayer for comfort in times of grief is like a soothing balm to a soul wearied by the pain of searing loss and deep longings for our dearly departed.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4 KJV
Nothing can send us reeling to the depths of life’s darkest corners as much as the loss of a person we love most. And though the pain of grief may last a few months or so for some, others may bear the weight of a bruised heart for years on end.
As Nora McInerny, an American author on grief, said:
“ We don’t move on from grief. We will move forward with it.”
Thus, the sharp sting of bereavement may wane in due time, but its scars will forever be etched in the hearts of those who were left behind.
How Do You Stay Strong in Grief?
No one is immune to the devastating impact of grief. We’re only human, prone to paralyzing despair in the face of formidable loss, an agonizing separation from loved ones who passed on.
We break down. And that’s okay.
Our emotional response to grief only shows the depth of our humanity.
We love. We hurt. We grieve. We go on living.
But life, as we know it, will never be the same again.
Nonetheless, we have a God who will enable us to endure amid our flailing strength.
And though grief will not leave any of us unscathed, it will surely endow us with profound life lessons that will transform our character and core values for the better.
Grief Is a Pathway to God’s Heart
Thus, not putting our losses to waste is crucial.
When facing our grief with a resilient mindset, not only can we use the profound wisdom it provides to refine our character, but we can also use it as a compass in drawing ourselves closer to our God.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18 NIV
And should we allow God’s presence to permeate our hearts and minds during our time of loss, we can be assured that the peace of the Almighty will carry us through as we navigate the difficult and shifting tides of grief.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Isaiah 53:3 KJV
How Do You Let God Comfort You in Times of Sorrow?
Our God can be your source of hope and comfort in these difficult times by:
- Cultivating a Life of Prayer
Many servants of God who came before us can attest to the healing power of a fervent prayer. Being in the spirit of prayer is akin to being in God’s presence, pouring out our hearts, innermost thoughts, and yearnings. Thus, the supernatural peace of God will saturate our being, enabling us to get a much-needed reprieve from the unrelenting pain that pierces our grieving souls.
God’s servants since ancient times have themselves gone through agonizing torment of grief. David, Job, the apostles, Naomi, Hanna, and others sought His presence in times of deep sorrow and mourning. Their inspiring stories prove that we can find solace amidst life’s unbearable anguish by persevering in prayer.
“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
- Reading God’s Words to Alleviate the Pain of Grief
God’s words are like salve to our deepest wounds; the more we immerse ourselves in His Words, the more we will experience His peace –the inner tranquility of the heart that transcends human understanding.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.” Psalm 119:50
- Inspirational Bible Stories of Loss
Stories of bereavement experienced by God’s servants in the Bible will serve as an encouragement to those of us going through the pain of loss. Getting acquainted with their struggles will make us feel less alone as we traverse the alternating seasons of mourning. Furthermore, learning how the bereaved survived their loss as they clung to God’s promises can illuminate our path as we strive to emerge from the shadow of our own grief.
- Surrendering All Your Pain to God
We can only experience the full measure of God’s comfort when we fully surrender our pain and distress to the Lord. Allowing God to bind up our emotional wounds illustrates our profound trust in His ability to heal and comfort us in moments of utter desolation.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
John 16:22
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11: 28-30
- Reading Scriptures for Comfort and Strength
The Bible contains verses that aim to comfort and strengthen those in the grip of life’s upheavals and deep anguish. As you navigate through the peaks and valleys of grief, take a moment to reflect and meditate on the comforting wisdom of God’s words to ease your weary soul.
Bible Verses on Grief and Loss
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Comforting Bible Verses for the Death of a Loved One
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; and it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”1 Corinthians 15:42-44
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ”Joshua 1:9
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Prayer for wisdom and comfort in times of grief is necessary to help alleviate the suffering of a grieving heart.
Here is a prayer you can lift to God if you have not found the words to express your grief.
Christian Prayer for Strength When Grieving
Father,
I come before you with a broken heart. Losing _______ (name) has sent me reeling to the depths of despair. My heart is shattered beyond measure, beyond my ability to endure. I now ask You, Father, to give me the strength to carry on living as I face life without _____(name)
My pillows are drenched in tears as the pain of grief hovers above me day and night. I cry to you, Lord, hear my voice. Comfort me in my pain and suffering, for you have promised to comfort those who mourn and bind up the wounds of those whose hearts are broken.
Comfort me the way you comforted your servants of ancient past in their time of grief.
Grant me the grace to accept what is, knowing that, one day, I will be reunited with my loved one– a promise you have made to those who put their hope in You.
And as I go through life on my own, make your presence felt and be the source of my strength. In my darkest moments, hold me by the hand and walk with me as I navigate this difficult season of life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
From Grief to Grace
As Christians, our faith in our God will enable us to endure life’s adversities, including the grief of losing a loved one. May we be reminded that whenever suffering becomes too unbearable, God’s grace abounds even more.
And knowing that there is more to life than what’s seen, we will not succumb to the sobering realities of life. Rest assured that our God will carry us through our darkest days as we walk the difficult and winding path of grief and loss.