As believers, we can be instruments of God’s healing and comfort for those grieving and experiencing loss. In action, that means being there for those who are suffering a loss and listening to them. It’s not even about being able to give good advice (though that might be helpful) but journeying with them as they walk through that dark valley and grieve for what they’ve lost. It also means doing anything that uplifts them, such as offering them their favorite food or sharing activities they like. Also, one of the things that we can do for them is pray a short comforting prayer. As we do any of these things, we are doing them because we love (John 13:34-35; Luke 6:27-36). As God’s chosen ones, we exercise compassion, kindness, and tenderness to those in loss (Colossians 3:12 2 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;).
Being a Good Listener
You may wonder what it is about being a good listener that makes a person a comfort to those who are experiencing a loss, but it does play a great part. First, being a good listener entails deeply understanding the hurts and pains of someone who has lost someone or something. Listening is not so much trying to know what to reply or the counsel that you might give, but it is for comprehending fully what the person is going through.
A Comforting Short Prayer For A Loss
Sometimes, we are tempted to jump into “advise mode,” where our instinct is to quote a Bible verse to counsel the person. However, at times they do not need someone to give them advice. In fact, chances are that as believers they already know what you will tell them. Sometimes, people at a loss just need someone to be with them, listen to them, and understand their pain. That in itself is a comforting thing to do. A good example is God, Who is close to and near those who are broken (Psalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.).
A Comforting Short Prayer For A Loss
As we strive to be good listeners for those grieving because of a loss, we make them feel listened to, known deeply, and understood. We get a clearer picture of what they are going through so there will be more depth and substance in the prayer that we pray for them.
Heavenly Father, give me the grace to be a good listener to those who are grieving a loss. Give me understanding and compassion for their hurts and pain so that I may know how to help them better. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Comforting Short Prayer For A Loss
Putting Love into Action
The Bible tells us in (Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;) that as God’s chosen ones, being holy and beloved, we are to put on compassionate hearts. Being God’s chosen and beloved ones entails deeply empathizing with others. However, such compassion doesn’t just remain a surface emotion; it compels us to respond to the suffering of others and put our compassion into action through the deeds that we do. That is also why (1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.) says that we should let all that we do be done in love. Compassion and love involve “doing.”
A Comforting Short Prayer For A Loss
A Comforting Short Prayer For A Loss
What are some acts of love or compassion that we can do for someone who is grieving? As mentioned above, being there for them is already one of the things that we can do. However, that is more than a one-time commitment. Being there for them means to journey with them as they are grieving and feel their pain until they recover. It also involves making gestures that would uplift and comfort them, such as bringing them their favorite food. Give them something with a note that tells them they are doing a great job of persevering or perform other acts that show them how much you are thinking of them.
How to Pray a Comforting, Short Prayer for Loss
As you listen to someone who is grieving, take the time to understand what happened, the emotions they are feeling, and the pain they are going through because of the loss. Since this gives you a clear picture of what they are experiencing, you will know better what you can pray for them. Even if it is a short prayer, with it you can effectively minister to someone going through a loss.
Keep two things in mind as you pray a short comforting prayer—“affirmation” and “reminder.” When you affirm someone, you are letting yourself be a channel of God’s affirming love toward them. Listening is essential because you can never affirm someone without listening and deeply comprehending their pain. “Reminder” means you use the comfort and encouragement that the Word of God gives us and apply them to remind someone of the power of faith. Let the Holy Spirit do the work as you remind them of what God’s Word says.
For example, let’s say someone just had a good friend break off the relationship. There is something much more profound than merely a friendship being dissolved. The person probably feels inadequate, thinking that despite all their efforts to be a good friend, it still wasn’t enough. In that case, you could affirm the person in prayer by acknowledging their pain and saying that, indeed, they made every effort to be a good friend. Maybe the friendship didn’t work, but that does not change the truth that they are valuable and precious in the eyes of God. You can also remind them that no matter the season, the Bible says that nothing shall ever separate them from the love of God; that He never leaves them.
Father in heaven, we thank You because You are the God Who sees and understands. You know all the effort this person has made to be a good friend to others. Thank You because his value is not dependent on how others treat him; it comes from him being Your Son. Remind him that no matter the season, no pain, sorrow, trial, or tribulation can separate him from Your love. You never leave him. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
The loss that someone grieves could be any kind of loss. It could be that they lost their business, a perfect opportunity, a long-running friendship, a loved one from a sense of rejection, and many more situations. Regardless of what loss they are grieving, may we endeavor to minister and uplift someone who is hurting and do it in a humble, meek, lowly, and Christlike manner. As we seek to be a balm to the soul of someone in pain, we understand we do it not by our strength but through Christ. May we also have Christ as the supreme example of someone who brings serenity and comfort to the souls of others.