How to pray in great loss…
Loss in personal gifting and possessions
- Physical vitality
- Opportunity
- Life dream
- Reputation
- Resources (home, job, etc.)
Loss in relationships
- Persons we love
- Families
- Friendships
- Partnerships
In praying through times of great loss are the following ways we pray your experience?
Enduring emotional upheavals leading to anger, depression or disillusionment, we seek solace in God’s comfort and strength (Psalm 34:18, Matthew 11:28-30, 12:15-21), and we seek grace to pray as Jesus did in Gethsemane… (Matthew 26:36-46)
Forced to change life patterns, we pray for wisdom to see the path ahead more clearly and adapt to the new situation with hope (John 17).
Fearing further loss, we pray that God would not only protect what remains, but take the little remaining and multiply it in grace for His Kingdom purposes (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
Confused over identity and life purpose, we seek God’s face in prayer in order to learn the lessons God is teaching through this season (John 20:19-21:23).
Uncertain about what to do next, we pray that God would reveal and confirm the next step… (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:18-30 ESV
Recommended Resources
- Every Moment Holy, pp. 212-213, 232-235 – Doug McKelvey.
- What if Suffering Is God’s Secret Weapon – Shane Morris
- 5 Prayers for a Grieving Heart – Bob Hostetler
- 4 Simple Prayers for Grief and the Grieving Heart – Jennifer White
- Embracing the Sadness of Grief – Alan Wolfelt
- Bible Prayers for the 5 Stages of Grief – Bob Hostetler
- A Prayer for When Grief Makes Praying Hard – Kimberly Carroll
Highly Recommended Resource:
The Psalms and Christian Lament: Mark Vroegop
Biblical “Lament”: “A prayer in pain that leads to trust.”
“But I call to God, / and the Lord will save me. / Evening and morning and at noon / I utter my complaint and moan, / and he hears my voice. / He redeems my soul in safety / from the battle that I wage, / for many are arrayed against me.” Psalm 55:16-18 ESV
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ …Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:14-15, 26-27 ESV
“Jesus suffers with us in our suffering. That’s how He heals us of our suffering. One of His names in the New Testament is ‘Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ However low we sink, God is with us. He’s there at the bottom waiting for us! He isn’t off on some distant planet, indifferent to our plight. He’s in the midst of all we go through.”
– Dr. Gregory A. Boyd (“Letters from a Skeptic”)
Click here for a list of songs to help on the journey through great loss…
Praying the Way of the Cross with
by Charles H. Spurgeon…
- Our Savior’s Prayer
- Just a Little Longer
- Rich in Poverty, Strong in Weakness
- Why Do I Face Trials?
- Comfort in Trial
- Love’s Strength
- How Many Prayers?
- Established Through Suffering
- God’s Comfort For Those Who Comfort Others
- Heard in His Trial
- Comfort on the Hill
- Eternal Comfort
- Great Thoughts of Christ
- Take Comfort in God’s Light
- Chosen for Affliction
- Many Tribulations
- The Benefit of Affliction
- Our Quiet Dwelling Place
- He Promises You
- The Mighty One
- He Has Said
- To Him Be the Glory
breathingbygraceblog 
Psalm 131 insight…
Meditating on Psalm 131 recently, my heart resonated with two things. First, it is right and good to stop exercising my mind for solutions to situations too big for me or clearly beyond my control. Second, it is right and good to give first importance to simply resting in God’s care – being loved. Even if a solution doesn’t present itself in time to spare me grief I can lean in upon Christ and be comforted by His love.
Julia explained the picture of the “weaned” child being cuddled by his or her mother. Snuggled by the mother’s breasts, the child not weaned would clamor for milk. The weaned child, on the other hand, is comforted not by what mom might provide to quiet the hungry belly, but her loving, protecting, comforting presence – and it is enough.
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