A Prayer for the Grieving

This is a prayer I shared with our Grief Support Group at their December gathering. We know the cultural pressure to be not just happy but full on jolly this time of year can really get people down. Especially if you are grieving the death of a loved one. Or the death of a relationship, or the end of a job, or a season in your life. Or you might just be weighed down by [gestures broadly] all the ways in which the world is messed up, unjust, cold, or oppressive. If that in any way describes you, I hope you’ll consider participating in our Longest Night worship experience on Saturday, December 21 at 6:00pm. It will also be live-streamed on our Minooka UMC Facebook page (and, if the tech works properly, here on our website). Whether you gather with us on Saturday or not, I offer this prayer for you.

Loving, Compassionate God, we turn to you throughout our lives. For the seasons in our past that brought us joy, the seasons we deeply miss with longing in our heart, we offer our gratitude. May our memories be sources of comfort rather than pain.

For the seasons in our past that are tender and painful, and for this holiday season that can feel overwhelming, we ask your healing. Liberate our hearts, minds, and spirits from trauma, and let us bury what must be buried.

For new beginnings that fill us with excitement, we give you praise. May we step into these new seasons with grace. For changing seasons that bring anxiety for what the future may hold, we ask your peace. Fill us with hope, and help us navigate the way forward.

Wellspring of Life, we offer you every part of ourselves: our grief, our pain, our joy, our anxiety, and our gratitude. We bring it all to you, for you are with us through it all. Even in the midst of our grief or sorrow or pain, we dare to trust in your faithfulness. We dare to trust in the Babe of Bethlehem, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Photo by Mike Labrum on Unsplash