Prayer of Comfort for Bereaved Parents

15 Comforting Prayers for Grieving Parents

Leaning on the Lord is the best way to get over the grief of a parent. These comforting prayers for grieving parents will provide you with the comfort and reminder you need of God’s promises and his Will for you.

Prayer #1

Jesus, I am empty, you cradle me. I am lost, you find me. I am trapped, you release me. I am without, you fill me. I am mute, you hold me. I am bereft, you console me.

I am adrift, you anchor me.

Prayer #2

Dear Lord,
I come to you now for my friend who is hurting. I ask you to give him/her strength and comfort in this time of deep need. His pain and grief run deep. My heart breaks for him, but I can only imagine how difficult this time is for him. I pray that you help him maintain his faith during this difficult time, so that he can depend on you.

Lord, you can be his strongest shoulder and biggest provider. At this time when daily life can be so burdensome, please give him patience as he works through his grief.

Surround him and his family with understanding so that they can work through all the emotions this loss has stirred up. In times when life is chaotic to manage–when bills need to be paid, homework needs to be done–let your grace sustain him through day to day life.

Let me shine your light and impart your comfort during this time.

I pray all these things in Jesus’ holy name.
Amen.

Prayer #3

Father, grant me gospel joy; help me to rejoice in Christ even as I grieve. Envelope me with the peace and comfort only you can provide. As the days move into months, may this burden lessen. As the months move to years, use me to encourage and bless someone else who must walk a similar path. Help me to point them to you as the God of all comfort.

I know that you are always with me and that your love never ceases. Help me to find refuge in you and nowhere else.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer #4

Loving Father, I am finding it so hard to even get up bed to start the day, knowing that I have to face it alone and without the one I love so dearly – I know that without Your grace and sufficiency I could never get through the day – but I thank You that You have promised to be with me and to provide me with Your strength for the day as well as bright hope for tomorrow.

Prayer #5

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.

Prayer #6

Console me Lord as I grieve today. Give me Your strength, Heavenly Father. Remind me of Your promises. Comfort me when loneliness strikes and I feel lost. I pour out my heart to You today Lord, for I am broken, shattered and weary.

Heavenly Father, I need You. I am crying out in desperation, in search of that peace that will soon emerge as I cling to You.

Prayer #7

Time is in your hands, O Lord You place the sun and moon. You turn the tides of ocean deep So you can hold me safe in grief,

You can hold me safe.

Eternity is always there Around us everyday. From every seed that grows a tree Creation sings of life redeemed,

In Christ we are redeemed.

Love is yours, it bears your mark, Your imprints everywhere. Each tender word I shared remains Love lives beyond our fleeting frame,

It lives beyond our frame.

My precious one runs to your arms I trust them to your care. You catch my tears and help me see, The hope of Heavens glorious light,

The hope of Heavens light.

Prayer #8

Dear Lord,
Please help me in this time of loss and overwhelming grief. Right now it seems nothing will ease the pain of this loss. I don’t understand why you’ve allowed this heartache in my life. But I turn to you for comfort now. I seek your loving and reassuring presence. Please, dear Lord, be my strong fortress, my shelter in this storm.

I lift my eyes to You because I know my help comes from You. I fix my eyes on You. Give me the strength to seek You, to trust in Your unfailing love and faithfulness. Heavenly Father, I will wait on You and not despair; I will quietly wait for your salvation.

My heart is crushed, Lord. I pour out my brokenness to You. I know that You will not abandon me forever. Please show me Your compassion, Lord. Help me find a path of healing through the pain so that I will hope in You again.

Although I can’t see past today, I trust in Your great love to never fail me. Give me Your grace to face this day. I cast my burdens on You, knowing You will carry me. Give me courage and strength to meet the days ahead.
Amen.

Prayer #9

O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, hurry to help me. Please take the consuming anguish I feel right now; take it from me and hold me in Your arms. Heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds (see Psalm 147:3). Amen.

Prayer #10

Father, we ask You to send Your peace to those persons who are mourning. Continue to surround them with family, friends and loved ones who will offer words of comfort. Give them sweet and restful sleep. Father, remove the spirit of heaviness, and give them garments of praise.

In due time, bless their lives to overflow with laughter and joy again. As they take refuge in You, please help them to put their trust in You. Holy Spirit, we ask that You settle the hearts and minds of those who are feeling any guilt, resentment, bitterness, or anger.

Help them not to look back but to press forward.

Prayer #11

Jesus, my Savior, my friend. You are the resurrection and the life! You wept at the loss of Lazarus, yet You are capable of overcoming death and the sorrow of death. Help me as I feel despair, to find hope in You.

Mend the broken-hearted. Reward us with the consolation of Your presence and Your love. Set us free from this burden on our hearts, dear Lord. Help us to emerge whole and brand new as the circumstances strengthen us.

Even in the midst of my grief, I declare that all I pray for will come to pass, in Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Prayer #12

We pray for all whose lives have been touched by tragedy, whether by accident or a deliberate act.

For those who mourn, immerse them in your love and lead them through this darkness into your arms, and light.

For those who comfort, be in both the words they use and all that’s left unspoken; fill each heart with love. We ask this through Jesus Christ, whose own suffering brought us life,

here and for eternity. Amen.

Prayer #13

Lord, the Bible says You are “close to the brokenhearted and [You rescue] those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18, NLT). Draw close to me and rescue me.

Help me not to grieve those who haven’t discovered Your kindness and mercy, who have no hope (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13); lift me up and give me hope once more.

Help me to believe that tomorrow will be better, and the next day will be easier, and that a day will come when I will feel a surge of energy and expectation for what You are doing and where You will take me. Amen.

Prayer #14

God of love and mercy, embrace all those whose hearts today overflow with grief, unanswered questions and such a sense of loss. Grant them space to express their tears. Hold them close

through the coming days.

Prayer #15

Our Father in heaven, may Your Name be honored. There is none greater than You. You are our refuge and strength. You are always ready to help in times of trouble. We praise You, Lord. We lift our hearts with praise.

It is good to sing praises to You, our God; how delightful and how right! Lord, You are great and mighty in power. Your understanding is infinite. We thank You, Father, for the life of our loved one(s) who have gone on to be with You.

Thank You for their time on earth and the impact they had on our lives. We are thankful to You and we bless Your Name.

Life throws many challenges our way. This video from Pastor Rick Warren will provide you with encouragement to get through the difficult times no matter how hard it may seem.

About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.

Источник: //connectusfund.org/15-comforting-prayers-for-grieving-parents

Helping Someone Who’s Grieving – HelpGuide.org

When someone you care about is grieving after a loss, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. You may be afraid of intruding, saying the wrong thing, or making your loved one feel even worse.

Or maybe you think there’s little you can do to make things better. But your comfort and support can make all the difference to your loved one’s healing.

While you can’t take away the intense pain of their loss, there are many ways to show someone who’s grieving how much you care and to help them through this difficult time.

How to support someone who’s grieving?

The death of a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. The bereaved struggle with many intense and painful emotions, including depression, anger, guilt, and profound sadness. Often, they feel isolated and alone in their grief, but having someone to lean on can help them through the grieving process.

The intense pain and difficult emotions that accompany bereavement can often make people uncomfortable abfering support to someone who’s grieving. You may be unsure what to do or worried about saying the wrong thing at such a difficult time. That’s understandable.

But don’t let discomfort prevent you from reaching out to someone who is grieving. Now, more than ever, your loved one needs your support. You don’t need to have answers or give advice or say and do all the right things. The most important thing you can do for a grieving person is to simply be there.

It’s your support and caring presence that will help your loved one cope with the pain and gradually begin to heal.

Helping a grieving person tip 1: Understand the grieving process

The better your understanding of grief and how it is healed, the better equipped you’ll be to help a bereaved friend or family member:

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief does not always unfold in orderly, predictable stages. It can be an emotional rollercoaster, with unpredictable highs, lows, and setbacks. Everyone grieves differently, so avoid telling your loved one what they “should” be feeling or doing.

Grief may involve extreme emotions and behaviors. Feelings of guilt, anger, despair, and fear are common. A grieving person may yell to the heavens, obsess about the death, lash out at loved ones, or cry for hours on end. Your loved one needs reassurance that what they feel is normal. Don’t judge them or take their grief reactions personally.

There is no set timetable for grieving. For many people, recovery after bereavement takes 18 to 24 months, but for others, the grieving process may be longer or shorter. Don’t pressure your loved one to move on or make them feel they’ve been grieving too long. This can actually slow the healing process.

Tip 2: Know what to say to someone who’s grieving

While many of us worry about what to say to a grieving person, it’s actually more important to listen.

Oftentimes, well-meaning people avoid talking about the death or change the subject when the deceased person is mentioned.

But the bereaved need to feel that their loss is acknowledged, it’s not too terrible to talk about, and their loved one won’t be forgotten. By listening compassionately, you can take your cues from the grieving person.

How to talk—and listen—to someone who’s grieving

While you should never try to force someone to open up, it’s important to let your grieving friend or loved one know that you’re there to listen if they want to talk about their loss.

Talk candidly about the person who died and don’t steer away from the subject if the deceased’s name comes up. And when it seems appropriate, ask sensitive questions—without being nosy—that invite the grieving person to openly express their feelings.

By simply asking, “Do you feel talking?” you’re letting your loved one know that you’re available to listen.

You can also:

Acknowledge the situation. For example, you could say something as simple as: “I heard that your father died.” By using the word “died” you’ll show that you’re more open to talk about how the grieving person really feels.

Express your concern. For example: “I’m sorry to hear that this happened to you.”

Let the bereaved talk about how their loved one died. People who are grieving may need to tell the story over and over again, sometimes in minute detail. Be patient. Repeating the story is a way of processing and accepting the death. With each retelling, the pain lessens. By listening patiently and compassionately, you’re helping your loved one heal.

Ask how your loved one feels. The emotions of grief can change rapidly so don’t assume you know how the bereaved person feels at any given time. If you’ve gone through a similar loss, share your own experience if you think it would help.

Again, put the emphasis on listening instead, and ask your loved one to tell you how they’re feeling.

Accept your loved one’s feelings. Let the grieving person know that it’s okay to cry in front of you, to get angry, or to break down.

Don’t try to reason with them over how they should or shouldn’t feel.

Grief is a highly emotional experience, so the bereaved need to feel free to express their feelings—no matter how irrational—without fear of judgment, argument, or criticism.

Be genuine in your communication. Don’t try to minimize their loss, provide simplistic solutions, or offer unsolicited advice. It’s far better to just listen to your loved one or simply admit: “I’m not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care.”

Be willing to sit in silence. Don’t press if the grieving person doesn’t feel talking. Often, comfort for them comes from simply being in your company. If you can’t think of something to say, just offer eye contact, a squeeze of the hand, or a reassuring hug.

Offer your support. Ask what you can do for the grieving person. Offer to help with a specific task, such as helping with funeral arrangements, or just be there to hang out with or as a shoulder to cry on.

Tip 3: Offer practical assistance

It is difficult for many grieving people to ask for help. They might feel guilty about receiving so much attention, fear being a burden to others, or simply be too depressed to reach out.

A grieving person may not have the energy or motivation to call you when they need something, so instead of saying, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” make it easier for them by making specific suggestions. You could say, “I’m going to the market this afternoon.

What can I bring you from there?” or “I’ve made beef stew for dinner. When can I come by and bring you some?”

If you’re able, try to be consistent in your offers of assistance. The grieving person will know that you’ll be there for as long as it takes and can look forward to your attentiveness without having to make the additional effort of asking again and again.

There are many practical ways you can help a grieving person. You can offer to:

• Shop for groceries or run errands
• Drop off a casserole or other type of food
• Help with funeral arrangements
• Stay in your loved one’s home to take phone calls and receive guests
• Help with insurance forms or bills
• Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry
• Watch their children or pick them up from school
• Drive your loved one wherever they need to go
• Look after your loved one’s pets
• Go with them to a support group meeting
• Accompany them on a walk
• Take them to lunch or a movie
• Share an enjoyable activity (sport, game, puzzle, art project)

Tip 4: Provide ongoing support

Your loved one will continue grieving long after the funeral is over and the cards and flowers have stopped. The length of the grieving process varies from person to person, but often lasts much longer than most people expect. Your bereaved friend or family member may need your support for months or even years.

Continue your support over the long haul. Stay in touch with the grieving person, periodically checking in, dropping by, or sending letters or cards. Once the funeral is over and the other mourners are gone, and the initial shock of the loss has worn off, your support is more valuable than ever.

Don’t make assumptions outward appearances. The bereaved person may look fine on the outside, while inside they’re suffering. Avoid saying things “You are so strong” or “You look so well.” This puts pressure on the person to keep up appearances and to hide their true feelings.

The pain of bereavement may never fully heal. Be sensitive to the fact that life may never feel the same. You don’t “get over” the death of a loved one. The bereaved person may learn to accept the loss. The pain may lessen in intensity over time, but the sadness may never completely go away.

Offer extra support on special days. Certain times and days of the year will be particularly hard for your grieving friend or family member. Holidays, family milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries often reawaken grief. Be sensitive on these occasions. Let the bereaved person know that you’re there for whatever they need.

Tip 5: Watch for warning signs of depression

It’s common for a grieving person to feel depressed, confused, disconnected from others, or they’re going crazy. But if the bereaved person’s symptoms don’t gradually start to fade—or they get worse with time—this may be a sign that normal grief has evolved into a more serious problem, such as clinical depression.

Encourage the grieving person to seek professional help if you observe any of the following warning signs after the initial grieving period—especially if it’s been over two months since the death.

1. Difficulty functioning in daily life
2. Extreme focus on the death
3. Excessive bitterness, anger, or guilt
4. Neglecting personal hygiene
5. Alcohol or drug abuse

1. Inability to enjoy life
2. Hallucinations
3. Withdrawing from others
4. Constant feelings of hopelessness
5. Talking about dying or suicide

It can be tricky to bring up your concerns to the bereaved person as you don’t want to be perceived as invasive. Instead of telling the person what to do, try stating your own feelings: “I am troubled by the fact that you aren’t sleeping—perhaps you should look into getting help.“

If a grieving friend or family member talks about suicide, seek help immediately. Please read Suicide Prevention or call a suicide helpline:

• In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255.
• In the UK, call 116 123.
• Or visit IASP for a helpline in your country.

How to comfort a child who’s grieving

Even very young children feel the pain of bereavement, but they learn how to express their grief by watching the adults around them.

After a loss—particularly of a sibling or parent—children need support, stability, and honesty. They may also need extra reassurance that they will be cared for and kept safe.

As an adult, you can support children through the grieving process by demonstrating that it’s okay to be sad and helping them make sense of the loss.

Open communication will smooth the way for a child to express distressing feelings. Because children often express themselves through stories, games, and artwork, encourage this self-expression, and look for clues in those activities about how they are coping.

Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Last updated: June 2019.

Источник: //www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/helping-someone-who-is-grieving.htm