A Prayer about Grieving an Approaching Death

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Psalm 94:19

Everlasting Father,

Your word calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice 

and weep with those who weep,” 

and today, we weep with those 

who watch and wait powerlessly 

as a loved one’s death day draws near. 

To the chaos of tubes and cords 

and beeps and hums 

of dim hospital rooms, 

we ask that you would bring 

stillness and peace.

To the fear of a loved one dying alone, 

we ask that you would bring 

the hope of Jesus’ welcome.

To the disappointment of a loved one dying 

in a way we would never wish, 

we ask that you would bring 

consolations that comfort.

Even as we raise these requests to you, 

we speak our grief: 

We are weary of sickness and pain.

We are weary of death and mourning. 

We are weary of saying good-bye.

We are weary of weeping.

In our grief, we speak our longing: 

How long oh Lord, 

until you return to give us resurrected bodies, 

whole and healthy?

How long oh Lord, 

until we behold the tree of life, 

with its healing leaves dancing in the wind?

How long oh Lord, 

until we see your face, 

and the night is no more? (See Revelation 22:1-5).

In our grief, 

may we hear your sure and certain promise,

“Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7).

Read Psalm 94; Revelation 22.