When you miss a loved one, a prayer for God’s comfort
By Rachel Ujo
Bible Reading:
“The Lord is near the broken one, and will save those who have been crushed by the spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
Listen or read:
There are days when someone feels like physical pain in your chest. Maybe parents who aren’t here to give advice, spouses who are still caught off guard with empty chairs at dinner tables, or kids who laugh at anything for you to hear again. Grief does not follow schedules and does not deep aspire to the people we love.
I know this feeling closely. I have lost my mother, my father, and my precious daughter. There are moments when a missing person feels overwhelming and holds their breath. It may be caused by radio songs, familiar scents, or the way light hits the room at certain times. Suddenly, you want to immediately pick up the phone and be able to make a call or wrap it in another embrace.
Sometimes people try to comfort us with phrases like “They are in a better place” or “At least they are not suffering anymore.” They may be true, but they don’t always touch the deep pain of simply hoping for our loved ones with us. The truth is, it’s okay to miss them. It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to hope that things are different.
This is what I have learned through my own journey of loss. God does not rush our sorrows or tells us to overcome them. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The Lord will approach the broken ones and save those who have been crushed by the spirit.” When we are hurt, he doesn’t stay far. He draws nearby. He sits with us in our sorrows.
Losing someone is a beautiful testament to actually love. That means people are deeply important to you. That means they have left something that is always there in your heart. God understands this kind of love. Because he created us for relationships and connections.
When we feel that disappearance is overwhelming, we find comfort in remembering that the love we shared with our loved ones doesn’t end with death. That love is eternal and a gift from God that no one can take. We can’t make new memories with them here, but we can carry their love with us and shape how we love others.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
Today we come to you with the heart that we will be lonely without the person we love. You know exactly who we are thinking and how much this person means to us. You understand the depth of our longing and the pain that comes with their absence. Lord, we seek your comfort to surround us like a warm embrace. When a missing person feels too heavy to bear, remind yourself that you are near a broken person. Feel your presence in our sadness and know that you do not need to carry this pain alone.
Thank you for the love gift we shared with our loved ones. Cherish the memories we have and feel safe knowing that the love we share is eternal. When we want to focus only on what we have lost, help us see what we have gained by having them in our lives. Empower us for sleepless nights, tough days and peace. Respect their memories and help them find ways to advance their love. And when the time comes, help find joy again without feeling guilty about it. We believe that our loved ones have you cared for and safe, and we find hope in knowing that this separation is not eternal.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. If you are missing someone special, I want you to know that your sadness is effective and your love is beautiful. God sees every tear and understands every pain. He is with you on this journey and he brings both you and your loved ones closer to his heart.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Narudom
Rachel Wojo is an author, public speaker and podcaster who hosts Bible reading assignments on the popular blog rachelwojo.com. Her biblical approach and living environment influence women find strength and hope in everyday situations. Rachel’s journey is an ideal, hopeless prayer that sheds light on asking God’s questions. Rachel’s journey includes losing her mother to leukemia, a daughter of her adult special needs, a rare neurologically degenerative disease, and her father suffers from illness. She is the author of hopeless prayer. It is to embrace the power of prayer in the darkest moments of life. Mostly, Rachel is in love with six on Earth and two in heaven for Matt.
If you are looking for guidance to deepen your prayer life in difficult times, I encourage you to embrace my new book, Desperate Prayers: The Power of Prayer in the Darkest Moment of Life. You will find practical stories, prayers, and practical ways to connect with God when you need him the most. For more information, please visit dastateprayers.com.
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