fbpx

A Prayer about Rejoicing in Suffering

A Prayer about Rejoicing in Suffering

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…Romans 5:3-4

Lord Jesus,

Yesterday we prayed about rejoicing 

“in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

Today we need to face the fact that, 

for those who follow you, 

suffering is not only normal, 

but also a cause for rejoicing. 

That doesn’t really fit our American narrative, 

so help us by your Spirit to understand:

Suffering produces endurance: 

As we fix our eyes on you, 

the “founder and perfecter” of our faith 

who endured the cross for us (Hebrews 12:2), 

we are empowered by your Spirit to keep walking forward, 

one new mercy at a time.

Endurance produces character: 

Through suffering, you are making us “mature and complete” (James 1:4), 

people who are wise and compassionate, 

tender and strong comforters, 

people who don’t toss out spiritual Band-aids, 

people who listen carefully 

and give wise counsel at the right time.

Character produces hope: 

As you grow our endurance and character through suffering, 

we long even more for the future day 

when you will return and make all things new. 

This is the essence of hope, 

and it is a hope that will never disappoint (Romans 5:5).

In your suffering name. Amen.

Read Romans 5:1-5.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Grieving with Hope

A Prayer about Grieving with Hope

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Comforting Lord,

How kind your Word is—

you know that we will grieve when we lose loved ones, 

and you don’t tell us not to grieve.

and yet, you remind us 

that your return gives us every reason to hope for a brighter day 

even as we grieve. 

For we know that our loved ones lost to death 

are now with you if they trusted in you in this life. 

You told the thief on the cross, 

“Today, you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). 

Not only that, but you tell us that one day, 

you will return from heaven, 

“with a cry of command, 

with the voice of an archangel, 

and with the sound of the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). 

In that day, you will raise the bodies of those who died before your return (4:16). 

In that day, you will raise the living, 

who will oddly (to us) enough, 

escort you back to earth to establish your kingdom, 

the new heavens and the new earth (4:17). 

On that day, we will live in unbroken presence of eternal glory.

For this reason, we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13).

In your name we pray. Amen.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Reality of Hell

A Prayer about the Reality of Hell

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night. Revelation 14:11

Holy God,

Forgive us for our reluctance to talk about hell. 

When we refuse to consider its reality, 

we fail to understand the great goodness of the gospel, 

the hope of salvation to those who believe. 

We also fail to be like Jesus, 

who talked about hell 

more than anyone else in the entire Bible. 

He described it as “Gehenna” (Mark 9:43) 

a place out side Jerusalem 

where corpses and garbage 

rotted and burned. 

He said it was a place 

where the soul and body are destroyed  (Matt. 10:28) 

and the “fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47). 

Yes, we must see hell rightly 

as the place of just punishment for all of our sins, 

and we must see you rightly, 

as a holy, good, and patient God, 

“slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Numbers 14:18). 

We must see you as the righteous God 

who allowed your Son 

to suffer the torment of hell on the cross for us, 

that in him, we might never suffer its horror. 

And yes, Lord, we must share the good news 

of our hope in Jesus Christ, 

that others may turn from their sins 

and receive your gift of eternal life 

in everlasting glory.

Help us we pray, Lord, 

to believe your Word and to share its hope urgently.

In Jesus’s name. Amen. 

Read Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-311; Rev. 14:11. 

(This prayer based on an excerpt from my book, Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions about Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven. (Affiliate link).

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

Coping with Grief During the Holidays: Six Ways to Grieve with Hope

Coping with Grief During the Holidays: Six Ways to Grieve with Hope

Dear Friends,

As we enter the holiday season, I am all too aware that many of you are grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of health for yourself or for a loved one. Two years ago, the first holiday season after my mom had died, I described my grief this way: “I feel a little like I’m in a hotel room groping in the dark to find the light switch. The terrain is unfamiliar, and I’ve already bumped into the desk a few times.” 

Whether you have lost a loved one this year or caregiving has rearranged your life, the holidays can stir up grief like a windstorm in the desert. Maybe you are not in the storm of grief but know someone who is. Would you share this article with them? When we enter the season aware of the potential struggles, we’re more likely to walk through it with hope and kindness. Here are six ways I’ve discovered to cope with grief during the holidays. 

1. Acknowledge the reality, and accept the normalcy of your grief.

Because so much is flying at us during the holidays, we can forget that we have lost something significant. Then, when we cry messy tears during a cheesy holiday movie or dread decorating the Christmas tree, we are taken by surprise.  

Jesus led us in acknowledging his own grief over Lazarus’ death, weeping loudly, even though he knew he was about to raise him from the dead (See John 11). If Jesus grieved, then we are in good company in our grief. Jesus invites us to rest in him in our grief. 

2. Don’t compare your grief to another’s. 

You might look at me and think, “She just lost her mother three years ago, but I lost my mother five years ago. Why is she writing blogs about grief when all I want to do is sleep?” No matter what you might have learned in high school psychology class, grief experts say there’s  no such thing as a clear and orderly five stages of grief. Psychiatrist David P. Feldman, Ph. D., comments, “In fact, the actual grief process looks a lot less like a neat set of stages and a lot more like a roller coaster of emotions. Even Kubler-Ross said that grief doesn’t proceed in a linear and predictable fashion, writing toward the end of her career that she regretted her stages had been misunderstood.” (David Feldman, Why the Five Stages of Grief Are Wrong).

God has created each of us with a unique personality and has written each of our stories differently. Rather than comparing our grief journey to another’s, we can trust God to be with us throughout our journey. We can also invite others into our grief, saying something like, “I don’t know why this year is so hard for me. Last year I felt fine, but this year I really miss my husband’s homemade egg nog.” 

3. Be intentional about expressing your grief.

In addition to inviting others into our grief, we also may need to explore what we’re feeling. Journaling, talking with a good friend, and praying can help us discover more specific sources of our sorrow. For example, through journaling prayers, I discovered my disappointment that my mom died before she could welcome her first great-grandchild. 

Sometimes our family and friends don’t know how to respond to our grief. Thankfully, Scripture gives us models for lament, showing us how to take our grief to God. Over seventy percent of the Psalms are lament Psalms. They generally follow a fourfold structure: 

  1. Turning to God

  2. Naming your grief to God

  3. Asking God for help

  4. Expressing restored confidence in God. 

Even when we don’t know what to pray, praying one of the lament Psalms can help us express our grief (See Psalm 3, 6, 22, 28, 31, 44, 56, 57, 71, 77, 86, 88).

If you’re a paid subscriber, scroll down for a printable exercise for praying a personal lament.

4. Consider which holiday traditions you want to preserve, and which to save for another year. 

The familiarity of traditions can provide comfort, but at the same time, carrying on a tradition without the loved one’s participation can be painful. Consider which, if any, traditions you’d like to preserve this year, knowing you may do things differently next year. You might also creatively alter traditions. For example, if your husband always put the star on top of the tree, and he is no longer able, consider letting a grandchild do it this year. Or if you don’t feel like attending the local production of the Nutcracker, you might donate money to the dance company in honor of a loved one. 

No matter what you decide to do regarding traditions, remember to be patient with yourself, as God is with you. Know that your Heavenly Father isn’t wondering why you didn’t make your famous oyster dressing this year. Know that your Heavenly Father isn’t disappointed in you for skipping the big family Christmas party. Know that your Heavenly Father delights in you and rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). 

5. Seek out doable ways to serve others.

A study by the United Health group “found that most people felt mentally and physically healthier after a volunteer experience, mostly in relation to mood improvement, lower stress levels, and enhanced sense of purpose.” While we don’t want to use serving as a substitute for grieving, and we must be wary of overwhelming ourselves with others’ pain as we serve, some acts of service can help us heal. This may be the year to serve a meal at the local food bank, or it may be the year to call up a lonely friend and invite them out for coffee. 

God has designed and called us to “love our neighbor,” “to be fruitful and multiply”; finding bite-sized ways to share his goodness will benefit us and others. 

6. Take good care of your health.

Eat well (but not too well). Exercise. Sleep. Yes, Cousin Sally’s “Hot Fudge Brownie Delights” are delicious, and by all means, if your doctor approves, have one. But remember to do everything in moderation, enjoying the food and drink served up at the holidays, but not overindulging. Because walking improves mood and health, make it a regular practice, even if you have to do laps around the living room. 

Grief deeply affects the body; in this season, we want to be kinder than ever to the bodies God gave us, nurturing and protecting them as we have been called to do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Let’s pray for one another…

Dear friends, I will be praying for you as I invite you to pray for me over the coming weeks and months. May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord show us his abundant grace for every moment of grief. May we draw near to him, as he has drawn near to us.

And — if you’re willing to share — what are some ways you’ve found to cope with grief during the holidays? Please share in the comments (someone else might need your idea) or by sending me a message. 

Do you know someone who might be grieving during the holidays? Please consider sharing this with them if you think it would encourage them. Thank you!

Finally, if you’re a paid subscriber, don’t forget to scroll down to download your lament worksheet. If you don’t need it, you can share it with someone who might.

Thanks again for joining me. I love writing for readers like you!

By his grace,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth is a life and legacy coach who offers gospel-centered wisdom and equipping to help you live, prepare, and share your life and legacy.

Subscribe now to get free coaching tips from Elizabeth to help you with your aging, caregiving, legacy, and end-of-life.

A Prayer about the Pain of Living in a Fallen World

A Prayer about the Pain of Living in a Fallen World

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:21

Compassionate Father,

We who live in Western culture are keenly aware 

that we don’t suffer the way people in other cultures do—

we don’t have to search for healthy drinking water, 

we are rarely persecuted for our faith, 

our children have access to good health care.

And yet, that does not change the reality 

of the pain of living in a fallen world. 

Your Word is clear— 

creation has been groaning ever since the fall, 

“subjected to futility” (Rom. 8: 20). 

Daily, we fight futility—

we answer all the emails but soon find the inbox full again, 

we do all the laundry, but soon the baskets overflow again,

the children heal from one virus only to get a new one two weeks later. 

Though these are the “trivial” pains we suffer, 

they capture something of the futility 

we will always experience until Jesus comes again.  

Far less trivial are the pain and grief and sin and struggle 

that pervade our world. 

Your Word is clear—

none of us will escape suffering. 

Betrayal in relationships, 

bodies breaking down, 

abusive parents battering hearts…

These are the painful realities of living in a fallen world. 

And yet there may be hope. 

Your Word promises 

that through the everyday futility 

and the deeper anguish of life in a fallen world, 

you are healing and redeeming. 

We who are united to Christ 

are united to him in his sufferings, 

and in suffering with him, 

we will “also be glorified with him” (Rom. 8:17). 

We who suffer now will not always suffer: 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time 

are not worth comparing with the glory 

that is to be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). 

Dear Father, may we draw near to you 

in the pain of living in a fallen world, 

trusting that you are writing your redemption story, 

and that one day, you will finish your restoration work. 

Romans 8:12-25.



 

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Healing Lord,

January now brings with it for me many memories of my mom — 

her birthday on January 4; 

her death day on January 12; 

her funeral on January 8.*

As I remember her with sorrow and longing,

I return to the hope you offer me and my grieving friends:

The hope of the Day to come 

when there will be no more death, 

nor mourning, nor crying, 

nor pain. 

In these remarkable final chapters of your Word, 

you give us a glimpse of what that day will be like:

We will live in safety, with our identity secure in you,

because you will dwell with us (Revelation 21:3).

We will see Jesus face to face, 

and his name will be engraved 

on our forehead (Revelation 22:4).

We will drink for free and freely from 

the river of the water of life, 

and we will dine lavishly

 on the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 21:6; 22:1).

We will marvel at your majesty, 

and we will long to serve you and no other (Revelation 22:3).

We will enjoy peaceful community 

of people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Revelation 21:4; 22:2).

There’s more, so much more, 

to that day 

which will last forever. 

We believe your promise, 

“Surely, I am coming soon,” 

and we cry in response, 

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

In your hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21-22. 

*Because of Covid, we had to wait an entire year to have the funeral my mother had planned.