As our loved ones near the end of their life, we can pray for God's mercy, grace, and love to ease their passing from this life. Here we have collected 10 powerful prayers for the dying and severely ill to help you pray for their comfort and strength.
"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Christians)" ~ Ephesians 6:18
We all will experience death one day, but that doesn't make it an easy thing to face. We can so easily fear the end of our lives or focus our attention on things of this world instead of the glory to come in heaven, but we as believers can take comfort that God cares about our grief and Jesus understands our pain.
Like Job 14:5 says, "A man's days are numbered. You know the number of his months. He cannot live longer than the time You have set." God has a specific plan for each and every one of our lives, even if we might wish for a different outcome for ourselves or our loved ones. His plans are perfect and he desires the very best for each of his beloved children. We can find great peace in the presence of our Lord, even in our grief, our fear, our pain, and our final breaths.
Here are 10 prayers for the dying and the mourning:
A Prayer for Those Who Fear Dying
Dear God,
You are God, and I’m not. You sent Jesus to be my Savior, so I must need to be saved. I need you to forgive the things I’ve done wrong in life. I need you to give me a fresh start in life. I need you to help me know my purpose. I want to begin a relationship with you. I ask you to come into my life. I want to learn to trust you. I want to learn to love you. I want to learn to love other people the way you want me to. So I ask you today with humility and honesty and sincerity to please save me as I put my trust in you.
I pray this prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen
Photo credit: Unsplash-Annie-Spratt
This content was adapted from "Settle Your Destiny So You Can Help Others Do the Same" by Rick Warren.
A Prayer for Funerals
Dear Jesus,
How remarkable it is to have a savior who weeps with me.
Back when I was in elementary school, I loved John 11:35 for its brevity. “Jesus wept.” My friends and I would giggle, pleased that we had discovered the second-shortest verse in the Bible. (The shortest verse, as we gleefully reminded each other, was Job 3:2, “He said.”) I didn’t pay much attention to the context of John 11: the story of how You were en route to the tomb of Your friend Lazarus, in the company of Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha, mere days after Lazarus’ death. I didn’t dwell long on the significance of Your tears.
How different that verse looks to me today. Today, as I see the casket topped with flowers that blur at the edges because my eyes go damp every time I look in their direction.
Today, as pastors and friends and family members speak about my loved one using the past tense instead of the present. Today, as the words of the hymns catch in my throat and render me mute. Today, as the hope I still hold to be true collides with the waves of sorrow suffocating me.
Today, “Jesus wept” means everything to me.
Today, I remember that You wept because someone dear to You and dear to people You loved had died. Even though You already knew the end of the story—even though You knew that death wouldn’t have the final word—still You wept. You didn’t stand aloof, offering textbook reassurances and condescending pats on the head. You heard the stories, clutched the shaking hands, walked to the tomb, and shed tears of your own. You grieved the loss, and You grieved with those who felt that same stinging loss.
Today, Jesus, I am thankful to worship a God who became human enough to weep with me.
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This content was adapted from "A Funeral Prayer" by Gregory Coles.
A Prayer For All Our Tears
Dear Jesus,
Today, I cry tears that mean a hundred things at once, happy and sorrowful and desperate and hopeful. I trust You to sort them out as You catch them, to hear and answer each prayer they represent.
I cry for those of us left behind, for the lonely ones with hollows in our hearts. I ask You to comfort us, give peace, restore hope, and lavish us with love, family, and belonging. In the depths of loss, meet us with Yourself.
I cry for the legacy this loved one leaves, for the ways the world has been made different by their presence, for the memories that become both more beautiful and more painful on this side of death. And I pray that the work You have accomplished in this remarkable life will grow deeper, wider, and stronger in the days to come, uninhibited by a weak opponent like death.
I cry for those who haven’t yet accepted Your invitation into eternal life, for those who grieve without hope today. I pray for awakening in their hearts, for a stirring that draws to You. I pray for more attendees at the grand reunion scheduled in the coming eternity.
I cry for all the ways the world has gone wrong, and for all the ways You’re making it right again. I ask that You make me part of Your work in bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth.
I cry knowing You are here with me. And because You are here, even my tears have meaning.
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This content was adapted from "A Funeral Prayer" by Gregory Coles.
A Prayer for When You Grieve a Lost Loved One
Lord,
My heart is feels like a thousand knives are running through it. I am weary, spent, and just so sad. Please, help me! Hear my prayers. Hold me and my family up. Give us strength. Be present. Be persistent in your love. Carry us through this heartache. Sustain us. Bring us joy and hope.
In Your Name I pray, Amen.
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This content was adapted from "When We Grieve a Loved One in Heaven" by Lisa Appelo.
A Prayer for Fear of the Sting of Death
As 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 says, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Where is the sting of death for the believer? It is ripped out, because at the cross, Jesus took the stinger out of death. This is a great truth. As Christians, we no longer need to fear death because our souls will live on forever with Christ.
Dear Lord, we will face many terrifying events throughout this life, but may we never forget that the ultimate victory belongs to you. Through your sacrifice, death has been defeated. As we continue to walk in your truth, help us to set our eyes on Heavenly things.
Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash-jacob-meyer
This content was adapted from "Removing the Sting" by Greg Laurie.
A Prayer for Those in the Midst of Tragedy
Dear God,
Our hearts are grieving with those who are hurting, for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have suffered such great tragedy at the hands of evil. We ask that you would be their Comforter, that you would cover them with your grace and mercy, surrounding them in peace during this dark time.
We thank you that you alone are our Refuge, our Strong Tower, our Defender, and our Peace. We thank you that no matter what we face, you are still on the throne, you are still in control, and that no evil can ever stand against you. It will be defeated, it will not win. For you alone have won the final victory, and the enemy’s days are numbered.
We ask that by your mighty power, you would bring down the forces of darkness, that you would thwart the plans of all those who plot to attack and destroy, that you would draw out of darkness those souls who need to know you as Savior and Lord. We praise you for your power to set the captives free. We know that only in You do we have the hope to face dark and uncertain times. For our future is secure through the sacrifice of Christ.
Thank you God that you are surely with us…thank you that you care…thank you that your Presence is close…and that you weep with those who weep. We need you. We know and believe beyond any doubt, that your power and love will never fail.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus,
the Name Above All Names,
Amen.
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This content was adapted from "2 Comforting Words in the Midst of Tragedy: Prayer for Those Who Are Hurting" by Debbie McDaniel.
A Prayer for the Dying
Gracious Father,
your holy Word tells us
that our times are in your hands.
Hear our prayers for [Name] and for his family
as he nears the end of his earthly life.
Comfort them with your gracious promises
of the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2018; Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages
A Prayer for Comfort and Strength for the Dying
Almighty, eternal God, heavenly Father,
comfort and strengthen this your servant
and save them through your goodness.
Deliver them from all anguish and distress,
release them in your grace,
and take them to yourself in your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your dear Son,
our only Lord Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ImagineGolf
A Prayer for a Dying Person
O almighty and merciful God,
you are our rod and staff in the shadow of death.
We pray, visit this sick person,
their body and soul, with your mercy,
and graciously to forgive all their sins.
Take the sacrifice of the innocent death
of Jesus Christ your dear Son
as payment for their transgressions
since they were baptized in Christ’s name
and cleansed by Christ’s blood.
Deliver them from bodily pains or shorten them.
Sustain them against the accusations of conscience
and all attacks of the wicked one
that they may fight a good fight and overcome.
Grant them a blessed departure for the life everlasting.
Send your holy angels
that they escort them to the gathering
of the elect in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages Pablo K
A Supplication for the Dying
O God, our heavenly Father,
have pity on your children in great bodily weakness
who are drawing near the gates of death.
Send your dear Son to meet with them on the way,
and to stay with them, for the day is now far spent,
that he may comfort them with the Word of your goodness,
and break with them the bread of eternal life;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Christin Lola