Praying for others
How to pray for someone who lost a loved one
· 2 min read
How to pray for someone who lost a loved one, what to ask God for in grief, Bible verses for comfort, and ways to keep caring for them after the funeral.
To pray for someone who lost a loved one, ask God to be near them, to comfort them, and to carry them through the days ahead. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). You don’t need to have the right words for them. You can bring their grief to God.
What do you pray for someone who is grieving?
When you pray for someone who is grieving, ask God to be near them, to comfort them, and to carry them through the days ahead. Pray for rest, for people who will care for them, and for hope in Jesus. Keep praying after the funeral, on birthdays and anniversaries, when the cards and meals have stopped and the loss still feels new.
What to pray for someone who is grieving
- God’s nearness. That they would know He is with them (Psalm 23:4).
- Comfort. God is “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
- Rest and strength. Grief is exhausting. Pray for sleep and for help with daily tasks.
- The people around them. For family and friends who will care for them well.
- Hope. For believers, that they would “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
A short prayer for someone who lost a loved one
“Lord, Anna is grieving her father. Be near to her. Comfort her in the long nights. Give her rest, and surround her with people who love her. Help her to hope in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Keep praying after the funeral
Grief often gets harder in the weeks after the funeral, when others move on. Pray for the first holidays, the anniversary, and the birthday. Put their name on your prayer list for months, not days. For the holidays, see this Christmas prayer for a hard Christmas and the Thanksgiving prayer for a hard year.
Write down what you’re praying for them, and come back to it on hard dates.
Be present, too
Paul tells us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Jesus wept at the grave of His friend (John 11:35). Sit with them, bring a meal, say their loved one’s name. A short text that you prayed for them can mean a lot on a hard day.
Keep praying in The Pray App
Make a prayer card for the person and set it to come up weekly. Add a monthly card for the anniversary date so you remember to reach out. Tag them from your contacts, and after you pray, text them that you did.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to choose how often a prayer comes up.
Questions people ask
What do you pray for someone who is grieving?
Pray for God's comfort and presence, for rest, for the people caring for them, and for hope in Christ. Pray for the hard days ahead too, like anniversaries and holidays.
What Bible verse comforts someone who lost a loved one?
Psalm 34:18 says "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 calls God "the God of all comfort," and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 gives hope in Christ.
How long should I keep praying for someone who is grieving?
Keep praying for months, not only the first week. Grief often gets harder after the funeral, when others move on. Put their name on your prayer list for the long run.
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