“I’ll be praying for you.”
If you’ve ever walked through a trial, especially a loss of some kind, you’ve heard this phrase a lot. It’s comforting to hear that you are being lifted up.
If you’ve ever said that phrase, you’ve probably wondered a time or two how to actually pray for your loved one who is walking through the pain of loss.
I’ve only been on this grieving journey for a couple of months, but there are specific things that I’ve prayed for, asked for prayer for, and have been told are being prayed over me and my family.
The Spirit will always lead you as you call out to God whether for your own needs or on behalf of your friends or family, but these verses may help you get started.
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Whether you are praying for yourself or for someone else, my hope and prayer is that these verses can be a light in the dark. God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword. It gets to the heart of the matter better than anything else can. I pray that these verses encourage you and speak to you.
Peace
God’s peace doesn’t mean that we won’t still hurt. It means that we ask Him to walk through the pain with us, declaring “it is well with my soul” because our focus is on Him.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Matthew 11:28-30 “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.”
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Comfort
Our God is a God of comfort – He hurts when His people hurt and He offers comfort to all who call out to Him.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 119:48-50 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Protection
The enemy uses our times of grief and sadness to attack us and try to bring our focus off of Jesus and onto our circumstances. He may poke at old wounds or try to trap us in a sin God has long freed us from. We must call on our Protector!
Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 20:1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Provision
God promises to provide all we need, even when it doesn’t make sense to us or go according to our plan.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord can be present even amidst great pain and loss. His joy is not dependent upon circumstances but upon our trust in His never changing character.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Strength
Grief is exhausting, especially if the one lost underwent a battle with illness, such as cancer. Some days, it is too much to even get out of bed. God’s strength, not our own sustains us.
Joshua 1:7-9 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 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.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Support system
Those closest to someone walking through grief need prayer as well, as they care for hurting hearts.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Clear Mind
The fog of grief can cause difficulty completing daily tasks, caring for others, completing our work. It also feels suffocating and can trigger anxiety and fear and depression. Pray for the Spirit to intervene and lift the fog.
Philippians 4:6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,love and self-discipline.
Romans 12:12 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Nearness to God
Grief and pain offer us the unique chance to draw even closer to God than we would have been able to before. Pray for God to show Himself.
Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
James 4:8a Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Psalm 73:28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Hope
Hope is the anchor for our soul. Without hope in eternal life and God’s ultimate plan, we toss about anxiously. Pray for God’s hope to sustain.
Psalm 3:2-6 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
1 Corinthians 15:54-58 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Joshua 1:7-9 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 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.”
Psalm 147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Romans 5:2-7 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Isaiah 40:31-32 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
1 Peter 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Trust
Trusting in God’s plan, especially after He seems to have not answered our desperate prayers for healing, is difficult. Bring God the reality of what is happening and how you feel. Then say “But I trust in you.”
Psalm 31 (read for context) verse 14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
2 Samuel 7:28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Praise
Praise is not separate from grief and sorrow – just read through the Psalms! Praising God and counting the ways He is faithful is so healing.
1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 69:16 Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 86:17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Lamentations 3:25-26 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Psalm 23:6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 27:13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Philippians 1:6 …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Psalm 135:3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Paula Kiger says
Praying for you thank you for sharing these verses.
Amber says
Such a wonderful roundup of beautiful, comforting Scripture! Thank you for such a great post!
Lucretia says
Wowww, thank you for sharing!! God Bless!
Anna says
So glad this touched you!
Stephanie Malcolm says
I find this resource very helpful. I lost my son David four years ago and it would have helped to have this available then.
Anna says
I am so sorry that you can identify with the pain of loss. God really is close to the broken hearted and it was so healing for me to compile this list! <3