Prayers for Loneliness and Loss

LONELINESS

Jesus, in Your great loneliness on the Mount of Olives, and in Your agony,
You prayed to Your heavenly Father for comfort.
You know that there are souls on earth who are without support and without comforters. Send them an angel to give them joy.
—Anonymous

Father God, You sought me and adopted me, bringing me into Your realm of love.
I am in Your mighty and steadfast care.
I am in Your unconditional and constant love. Even when my family forsakes me, You receive me. Even when my friends disappoint me, You remain with me.
When I feel like I’m falling, You hold me up. When I feel like a lost cause, You accept me.
My kind Father, help me remember
that Your love is strong,
and that nothing will ever separate me from You.
—Carrie Marrs

Father, let me hold Your hand
and like a child walk with You down all my days, secure in Your love and strength.
—Thomas À Kempis (1380–1471)

Lord, You are closer to me than my own breathing, nearer than my hands and feet.
—St. Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)

Be O Lord,
a guiding star above me,
a smooth path below me,
a kindly shepherd behind me
and a bright f lame before me; today, tonight, and forever.
Alone with none but You, my God, I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when You are near O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Your hand, Than if a host did round me stand.
—St. Columba of Ireland (C. 521–597)

Even when I walk through
the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for You are close beside me.
Your rod and Your staff protect
and comfort me…
You honor me by anointing
my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house
of the Lord forever.
—Psalm 23:4-6 NLT

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LOSS

Lord Jesus, You are my light in the darkness. You are my warmth in the cold.
You are my happiness in sorrow.
—Anonymous

Lord, You hear Your people
when they call to You for help,
and help them in their trouble.
You rescue those whose spirits are crushed and comfort those who mourn.
I feel shattered and empty, consumed by my pain.
Find me in the darkness and hold me close to Your heart. I know You are able to carry me through anything.
Give me hope that things will get better,
and that You will heal me and make me whole.
Make me patient and able to endure this pain.
Help me not to be overwhelmed and paralyzed.
Help me take my next step in Your strength.
—Carrie Marrs

I have lost everything…
O friend of my heart,
O my good and devout husband,
you are dead and have left me in misery.
How will I live without you? . . .
May He who does not forsake widows and orphans console me.
O my God, console me!
O my Jesus, strengthen me in my weakness!
—St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231)

Lord God, make me strong and of good courage.
All the beauty of our past life together, the home we made, the dignity and glory of it,
the fellowship, the humor, the conspiracies, the discussions, the… pulsating life,
the splendid web You gave us to weave—
all this is over.
With one touch You called him home,
and it has fallen to pieces around me.
Give me strength and power to be still and see what You will do.
—Mary Benson (1841–1918), written after the death of her husband, Archbishop of Canterbury Edward Whited Benson, in 1896

Most merciful God,
whose wisdom is beyond our understanding, deal graciously with _____ in their grief. Surround them with Your love,
that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in Your goodness,
and strength to meet the days to come.
—Book of Common Prayer

Lord, meet me in my grief.
Put Your loving arms around me
and help me sense Your nearness.
Help me to accept my feelings
rather than trying to escape them.
My emotions seem overwhelming in their power,
but I will not forget that You are greater than all things. Hold my feelings, God,
and lead me through this unfamiliar place.
Thank You that You will stay with me,
hour after hour,
and provide for the great needs of my soul.
Bring me Your comfort,
Your strength,
and Your peace that goes beyond understanding.
Be my all in all.
—C.M.

You have seen my troubles,
and You care about the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.
But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in Your hands…
How great is the goodness
You have stored up for those who fear You… Praise the Lord,
for He has shown me the wonders
of His unfailing love.
—Psalm 31:7-8, Psalm 31:14-15, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 31:21 NLT

The horrors of darkness were gathered around me and covered me all over,
and I saw no way to go forth…
It was heavier than I could bear,
and I was crushed down under it. . . .
But in the depths of misery, O Lord,
I remembered that You are all-powerful,
that I had called You Father,
and I felt that I loved You.
I was made quiet in Your will,
and I waited for Your deliverance.
You had pity on me when no one else could help me. I saw meekness under suffering in the example of Your Son,
and You taught me to follow Him, saying, “Your will, O Father, be done!”
—John Woolman (1720–1772), Adapted

Lord, show me more of who You are
and make me who You want me to become through this season of suffering.
—C. M.

As the rain hides the stars,
as the autumn mist hides the hills,
as the clouds veil the blue of the sky,
so the dark happenings of my life
hide the shining of Your face from me.
Yet, if I may hold Your hand in the darkness, it is enough.
Since I know that—
though I may stumble in my going—
You do not fall.
—Gaelic Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God,
in Your tender love for the human race,
You sent Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon Him our nature,
and to suffer death upon the cross,
giving us the example of His great humility. Mercifully grant that we may
walk in the way of His suffering,
and also share in His resurrection.
—Gelasian Sacramentary (8thC.)

Even though I feel wrecked,
even though my world is falling apart,
may I look for reasons to sing
and ways to worship You.
Shine a light on Your goodness and beauty
all around me.
Fill my heart with hope and praise and courage.
—C. M.

O God, give me victory over myself, that nothing may imprison my life. Be the guiding light of my spirit,
lift me up from the dark depths. May my soul, rapt by Your wisdom, fight its way upward in fiery flight. For You alone understand me,
and only You can give me the inspiration to keep going.
—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), written when he realized he would lose his hearing

Excerpted with permission from A Prayer for Every Occasion by Carrie Marrs, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Sometimes when we suffer through loneliness or loss, we run out of words to pray or we don’t know how to pray. If you’re there, use these prayers as a template. Go before the Lord and enter into His presence. Come share with us what happens. We would love to hear from you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full