Saying a grief prayer may do more good than you might think. In times of grief, we are often feeling so many emotions. Loss. Denial. Unexpected betrayal. Shame and blame. Questioning. Guilt. Deep sadness. It can feel like a lot all at once.
But 1 Peter 5:7 tells us that God wants us to bring all of that to Him. We are all welcome to lay our burdens at His feet. We can certainly trust Him with all our feelings, and He will be there for us. God is so close to those who grieve.

The Importance of a Grief Prayer
Grief is a natural response to the various losses we experience in our lives. And it’s important to work through it and not ignore it. Grief can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming. But be reminded and encouraged that our loving Heavenly Father is available to you through prayer at any time. Bring your sorrows to Him and lay your burdens at His feet. He is sure to meet you there.
When Grief Hit My Family
Grief doesn’t only come with death. I was only 12 years old at the time when grief hit me and my whole family. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a chronic illness I will live with for the rest of my life. The loss of health. The sudden uprooting of life as we knew it. And all the unanswered questions about the unknown ahead. It all hit us pretty hard.
I didn’t fully realize I was grieving at the time, being as young as I was. But I know it hit my parents pretty hard. My dad had feelings of sadness and questions of how he could have prevented it from happening (spoiler alert: he couldn’t have). He also mourned the loss of my childhood, as a chronic illness can make a kid grow up pretty quickly. (I talk further about this in Day 10 of my book.)
My mother also felt helpless in fixing it. But she also felt like she had to take on the world in managing this disease and keeping life as “normal” as possible. (I talk about this further in this blog post. If you’re a mom of a kid with T1D, read it. This will encourage you so much!)
Grief Prayers You Can Pray
It’s so important that we turn to God in honest prayers to help us work through our grief. Not only does God hear our prayers, but it will help you keep your focus on God’s promises and truths. If you are experiencing a season of grief, you can use the following prayers as a guide every step of the way.
Grief Prayer from Scripture
Scripture is always a great place to start. Really, for anything in life. But there are countless prayers tucked into the pages of scripture. So here are a few that can help us through grief. You can also work these into your personal prayers as well.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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 23
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28
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
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 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 Corinthians 1:3-4

Grief Prayer for a Broken Heart
Various things in life can break our hearts. The loss of a loved one. A beloved pet dies. A close relationship is ended. In times like these, we can certainly turn to God and say a grief prayer. Here’s an example for you:
Lord God, You tell us that you are close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Thank You so much for that comforting promise. So I’m calling out to You for that today. God, my heart is simply broken to pieces. And I know you care for the things that happen to me. You are such a loving Heavenly Father. So I pray, Lord, that You would be with me as I grieve. I pray that You would be near me and comfort me. Help me also to process things fully and to rely on You in the process. Help me keep my eyes focused on You in everything. Amen.
Prayers for Empathy in Grief
Often times when we are feeling grieved, we are feeling our need for empathy. So we crave someone who understands. Someone who will listen. This can be especially true when we lose someone or something so important to us. In these times of grief, you can always pray to our all-knowing, all-understanding God of compassion.
Father, You are the omniscient God of the universe. You see all and You know all. And yet, You know my thoughts and feelings. So You know I am grieving, and I know You are close to those who grieve. God I pray that You would help those around me empathize with what I’m going through. So I come to You to pray for understanding and comfort from those You have placed in my life. I pray they would weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). And I also thank You, God, for providing family and friends for me. Especially in times like these. You always know what I need most, God. Thank You. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Grief Prayers for Peace
In times of grief, we often feel a complete lack of peace. We are in a time of upheaval, when things are changing and feel out of control. But our God is still in control. So pray for the peace of God.
Lord God, I come to You today with a racing mind and heart. I feel worried and anxious. I don’t know what to do or where to turn. But God, I know You are always with me. So I turn to You. Father, I pray today for peace. I desperately need Your peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Guard my heart. Protect my thoughts. Turn my mind to You and remind me of Your goodness, even in the midst of my grief. Help me to rely on You for guidance and direction in what feels unknown, trusting that You know and see more than I possibly could. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

BONUS Daily PRAYERS:
Goodnight Blessings and Prayers
A Grief Prayer for Strength
There are times in the grieving process that we simply lose strength. This is particularly true in longer times of grief. Our endurance just feels like it’s gone. We are most certainly exhausted mentally and physically. But we can turn to the God of strength in our weakness.
Father of Mercies, I come to you feeling so overcome with weakness. There are times I struggle to do anything at all. I just feel paralyzed by this process of grieving. But Lord, I know that Your power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). So I pray today that I would not fear, but trust wholeheartedly in You. I pray that You would strengthen me and uphold me. You are my creator and sustainer. And so, God, I look to You today for just that. Give me the strength I need for today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
BONUS READING PLAN:
In case this idea of finding strength in weakness hits home with you, this 14-day reading plan may be of interest. In this two-week plan, we will read encouraging Psalms, the words of the prophet Isaiah, perspective from James, and wisdom from the Apostle Paul. Your free instant download printable is below.
Prayer for the Nearness and God’s Presence
Feelings of loneliness and abandonment can be common in the pain of loss and time of sorrow. But we know God will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). So we can call on Him anytime to be near us. And when we come near to God, He will come near to us (James 4:8). You can pray for God’s promises in your life any time.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your promises. Your word says that You are near to the brokenhearted. Your word says that You are near to all who call on You (Psalm 145:18). And You know that’s what I need now, God. I long for Your closeness and nearness right now. God, I feel so alone in all that I’m dealing with. So I am praying for Your constant presence. Make Yourself known to me, God. Come close to me, I pray. In Christ Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Grief Prayer of Comfort
It’s important to seek comfort during our times of grief. Others close to you may comfort you. And God can also comfort you. He knows your heart and your thoughts, and He will be there. You can always pray for God’s comfort.
Father God, You are the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) And I am in desperate need right now. I pray, Lord, that You would be near me and comfort me in this time of sadness and grief. I know You will be. Remind me of Your promises to be near the brokenhearted and of the hope of Your unfailing love. As I’m crying out, God, please hear my prayers and heal my grieving heart. Wrap Your loving arms around me and send Your Holy Spirit to comfort me in my time of need, Father. Guide me through my grief, I pray. Amen.

Prayers for Healing
So many times our grief is associated with an illness. We pray for God’s healing touch. We pray for a cure. And we even pray for miracles. None of that is inherently wrong. God can absolutely do anything — He is the creator of the universe and sustainer of life! But we should also remember that sometimes the healing takes place in heaven through His promise of eternal life. (I write more about that in this blog post.) And when that is God’s way, we can pray for healing for ourselves in our times of grief.
Lord God, thank You for hearing my prayers. Thank You for being an attentive and loving Father. Today I pray for healing in my time of grief. I pray that You would help my heart and mind to heal from this sadness and suffering. Remind me of good memories to help ease my grief. Your word says that You are near to the brokenhearted and You bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). So I pray You would make Your promises true to me. Take this anguish away, God. Heal my heart, I pray. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
A Grief Prayer for Hope
In our grieving, we can lose hope. All can seem lost. The life we knew will never be quite the same again. And it all just feels like too much to handle. But the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love (Psalm 147:11). Turn to God and pray for renewed strength from the God of hope.
Dear God, thank You for hearing my prayer. I fear that all is lost, that nothing will ever be the same. I feel overwhelmed and doubtful. Lord, I have lost hope. So Father, remind me that my hope is in You. Help me to fix my 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 4:18). Help me to focus on You through it all, God, knowing You are my only hope. You are my sustainer in this tough time, and You will provide me hope again. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Grief Prayer after the Loss of a Loved One
One of the hardest losses happens when someone near and dear to us passes. Their death creates a void in our daily lives and can begin one of the darkest valleys of our lives. Things remind us of them, and all the feelings come flooding back over and over. This kind of deep grief may never fully go away, but change over time. And we can turn to God for His help processing through it as we go.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You with a weary soul and such a heavy heart. I am grieving a huge sense of loss, and I feel such a void, and I pray You would fill me again. Honestly, I don’t even know how to go forward without them. But I pray they are with You now, and that we will be reunited one beautiful day. In the meantime, Lord God, I pray for Your comfort and strength to face the days ahead. I also pray that You would ease my pain. Help to heal my heart in this season of sorrow and this difficult journey of grief. I pray for Your guidance in the days ahead, that You would lead me and direct me. Be near to me, O Lord. Amen.
Prayers for others who are grieving – A Condolence Prayer
Many times, we find ourselves praying for others in their time of loss. God’s word tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). And so we pray intercessory prayers on behalf of others. Here’s a sample you can follow:
Lord, I offer You a heartfelt prayer for my grieving friend (or family member) as they are in a time of grief and season of mourning. I ask that You provide them ample strength to endure what lies ahead. So give my dear friend’s heart the courage they need to face the hardest things in each day. Help me as a friend to be a source of comfort and support, and help me know how to do my best for them. Help others to come around to comfort them in the coming days and coming months as well. Remind them of your unfailing love, O God. Assure them they are never alone, and that You are so near to us always. Help them to cling to You in this difficult time. May they feel Your gentle touch and comforting presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Grief Prayer in the form of Breath Prayer
This is something I talk about in both my morning prayers blog post and also in my bedtime prayers blog post. Breath prayer can be so helpful during times of grief as well.
It nothing magic, but it’s a simple way to practice prayer along with deep breathing exercises.
Just choose a short phrase or sentence or verse from scripture. Then say the first part of it as you breathe in deeply. And then say the second half of it as you exhale slowly. Here are a few examples of this kind of short prayer:
- (inhale) “It is well” + (exhale) “with my soul” (song by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873)
- (inhale) “You are my strength” + (exhale) “and my refuge” (from Psalm 46)
The beauty of a breath prayer is its simplicity and repetitive nature. You can choose any phrase in scripture you want, and meditate on it while breathing deeply.

Prayer of Praise in the Midst of Grief
This one may not feel like it comes naturally. When we are grieving, we may be angry or frustrated or confused, and praising God isn’t the first thing on our minds. But regardless of what we face, God is still good. Sometimes we need to remind our hearts what our head knows in these moments, so these prayers of praise from these Bible verses are a great starting place.
Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. Psalm 104:1-4
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13
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. 1 Peter:3-5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11
A GUIDE For PRAYER
Are you looking for a way to write your prayers? My free 10 prayer templates are here for you!
And if you’d rather just journal your prayers, you can do that too! I most often use a journal like this one. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. God just wants to hear from our hearts.
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