A Prayer about Our Comfort in Life and in Death

by | Aug 3, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Our Comfort in Life and in Death

A Prayer about Our Comfort in Life and in Death

What is your greatest comfort when faced with sad news?

For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

Faithful Savior, Lord Jesus Christ,

In this world that values autonomy above all else, 

it is odd to utter the words of the ancient creed: 

“My only comfort in life and in death 

is that I am not my own 

but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”*

And yet, the apostle Paul teaches us here 

that it is a great comfort when faced with dark news 

to know that we belong to you. 

You give us eternal life, 

and no one can snatch us out of your hand (See John 10:28). 

You have paid the debt for our sins 

and freed us from all the power of the devil, 

including fear of death. 

Because you and only you preserve us, 

not a single hair can fall from our heads 

nor a cell grow in our bodies 

without the will of our Heavenly Father. 

Because of this great good news, 

we live each day expectantly, 

giving you glory for each day you give us.

Because of your kindness we pray.

Amen. 

Read Romans 14:7-9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 10:29-31. 

*See The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1. 

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

by | Aug 1, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

Do you need hope in dark places?

Even when I walk 

through the darkest valley, 

I will not be afraid, 

for you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff 

protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Lord, our Good Shepherd,

As we walk through dark valleys, 

valleys that feel like death, 

valleys that lead to death,

[Name some valleys you are currently walking through or have walked through.]

We will not be afraid,

[Name any fears you have felt.]

For you are close beside us.

[Name how you have known God’s presence with you.]

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort us.

[Name the protection from harm and the comfort in grief and pain you have known].

In the name of our comforting Shepherd, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Psalm 23.

A Prayer about Rejoicing in Suffering

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, 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 name. Amen.

Read Romans 5:1-5.



A Prayer for the Crushed in Spirit

by | Mar 1, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer for the Crushed in Spirit

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 

Psalm 34:18

Compassionate Lord,

Today we lift up, and we pray our prayers will truly lift up, 

those who are weighed down 

with the heavy burden of chronic illness or ongoing suffering 

in their bodies. 

Some have chronic pain that no medication can touch, 

some have seen doctor after doctor in efforts 

to find out why they feel terrible all the time. 

Others live with chronic depression or anxiety, 

still others have struggled with a barren womb 

or multiple miscarriages for years. 

Oh, good Father, may we pause for a moment 

and bring to mind people we know, 

whether friends, family, or acquaintances 

who suffer in their body. 

May we imagine what their days are like. 

Now we ask you, 

be so very near to them in all sorts of ways—

provide physical relief, 

provide hope through a new medical professional 

who really listens to them, 

provide comfort through our compassion.

As they struggle to believe that you truly are near, may we draw near to them, 

not with quick fixes 

but with long-suffering and listening hearts.

Save those who are crushed in spirit. 

Strengthen their faith, 

surround them with community who will believe on their behalf 

as they walk through (or feel they are stuck in) 

the dark valleys. 

By your Spirit, 

draw them near to you 

that they may see 

how you have come near to them 

in your Son’s suffering. 

In Jesus’ kind name we ask. Amen. 

Read Psalm 34:10-22; Psalm 22. 



A Prayer about Suffering with the Savior

by | Dec 30, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Suffering with the Savior

Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword shall pierce your soul also)…Luke 2:34-35

Comforting Father,

As this year draws to a close,

I know many who, like me, 

look forward to a new year, 

hoping that it will soften the harsh edges 

of last year’s grief, looking forward to new joys. 

May it be so. 

And yet, as we consider the words of Simeon 

to Mary and Joseph, 

we see that the call of a Christian 

is to know the abiding joy of our salvation 

even as we suffer piercing swords in our souls. 

Jesus was born to die. 

We are called to be reborn to die—

to our consuming agendas, 

to our self-salvation strategies, 

to our demand for certainty and control. 

Like Mary and Joseph, 

we are always richly blessed 

by our Savior. 

Like Mary and Joseph, 

we will at times endure piercing pain 

as we follow our Savior.  

May we embrace our calling 

with hearts of hope, 

knowing that our Savior 

“endured the cross” 

“for the joy set before him,” 

the joy of making us your beloved children. 

In the name of our Suffering Savior, Jesus, 

we pray. Amen.

Read Luke 2:33-35. 



A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Merciful Lord,

Today we pray for all who find themselves living in a landscape of loss. 

Even as various hurricanes whipped through Florida and the East Coast of America, 

wrecking homes, ripping away roofs, and taking lives, 

others are facing disaster in their lives: 

a body-wrecking diagnosis, 

the ripping apart of a marriage by an affair, 

the frequent flood of tears over a rebellious teenager,

unholy wars destroying people and land.

Lord, in a landscape of loss, 

in this world filled with tribulation, 

you make a startling promise: 

you have overcome the world. 

You tell us “Yes, you will suffer in this world, 

but in my world, 

my kingdom, 

which has already come and will soon be consummated,

you will never suffer again. 

Everything lost in the fall will be redeemed. 

For this reason, we can 

“be of good courage,” 

“take heart,” 

“not be afraid,” 

for you have indeed overcome the world 

by your death and resurrection. 

How we look forward to the day of renewal that awaits.

In your restoring name. Amen.

Read John 16.