Dealing with death in the family can be a desperate and shocking time, whether it was anticipated or sudden.
Losing a loved one is a troublous journey, and while everyone has different ways of dealing with it, they are experiencing grief and extreme sadness.
It is important to remember the truth of the Lord’s love and faithfulness in times of grieving.
We have put together some of our most sought-after prayers for strength and courage to help you in this time of mourning.
Before you start, save these goodbye short prayers for the dead.
1) Short Prayer of Strength after Death in the Family
“Dear Lord,
My family and I are grieved by the sudden passing of our loved one. We do not understand why their life had to be cut short at such an unforeseen time.
I ask that You grant us joy and help us to rejoice in Christ Jesus as we mourn. Envelope us with comfort and strength only You can provide. As the days progress, may the burden of this loss lessen.
Help us to find refuge in You and nowhere else, Amen.”
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
While death is inevitable, when it hits closer to home, it can be hard to process.
It can be challenging to know how to mourn healthily or move forward after a family member dies.
Sticking together as a family is of utmost importance in times of grief. But remember that despite having your family, there is one who is closer than a brother whom you can count on, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Scripture says in Proverbs 18:24 that: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
You can always count on Jesus, our great comforter for strength in such a dark period.
Also read these miracle prayers for dead grandmother.
2) Prayer to Overcome Death in the Family
“Jesus Christ,
You comforted Your disciples before Your death by telling them about the beautiful home You were preparing for them in paradise.
Thank You for knowing that in You, we will overcome the death in our family. I am grateful for the assurance that this life isn’t the end and the promise that our loved one will have everlasting life in Heaven.
Please reassure our minds and help us to grasp the truth that one day we will reunite with our departed family member in Your eternal grace.
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
Though death in the family is hard to overcome, you can find strength in God, that He will wipe away all your tears.
Though you can’t see the good in it now, you can ask the Lord to renew your faith and continue believing in the promise of life after death.
Be encouraged by this Bible verse, Matthew 16:25, that whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for Christ will find it.
Jesus explained to His disciples that whoever dies in Him will gain eternal life.
You can overcome death by believing in God’s promise of an afterlife in Heaven for your deceased family member.
3) Prayer of Courage After Death in the Family
“Lord my Father,
I cry for the family members left behind after the passing of our loved one. I ask that You comfort us, give us courage, restore our faith and lavish us with peace.
Holy Spirit, intercede on our behalf as we pour our hearts into You. Take out painful moments and use them for good. I know that while it is difficult to find joy right now, give us hope that we will one day rejoice in Your greater plan.
In our Lord and Savoir, I pray,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
Addressing the death of a family member can be painful and can cause some people to adopt unhealthy grieving behaviors such as:
- Alcoholism;
- Drug abuse;
- Isolation.
Some individuals have a hard time accepting death, distracting themselves with work and other activities or refusing to talk about the deceased loved one.
If you’re experiencing difficult emotions arising from the death of a family, you may benefit from this prayer, asking the Lord to give you the courage to deal with the pain.
It also helps to hear what your family members are going through and navigate the grieving process together.
Also try these prayers for a friend who lost a loved one.
4) Prayer for the Family to Overcome a Death
“Father God,
Please be our rock and fortress as we deal with the loss of our loved one. Remind us of Your unfailing love and help us to overcome.
I know that Your grace is sufficient to carry us through this difficult period. We may no longer be with our family member, but I know they have been reunited with You. And in that, we rejoice. Let this time of loss draw us closer to You because only You can sustain us and bring us hope.
Thank You for hearing this prayer,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
As you grieve the loss of your family member, remember that you can’t overcome it overnight.
There is no right or wrong way to mourn neither is there a specific time length. Each person experiences the stages of grief at their own pace.
Sometimes one may never get over the loss of a family, but acceptance can help to come to terms with it. In some cases, your faith in God can waiver as you question His authority and plans over your life.
While the Lord understands when we feel angry with Him. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to respond in bitterness but also faith?
Let this prayer enable you to trust the Lord’s faithfulness and love, which multiplies during mourning.
5) Prayer for Peace After the Death of a Family Member
“Lord, help me to find peace with the passing of my family member. I hand over my heartache to You today and trust You to use my sorrow for a greater purpose.
Let me learn how to release my doubts and fears to You and entrust You to fight the battles for me. It’s only by turning my heart toward You and hoping for the promises of Your Scriptures that I can find peace in this unfortunate time.
Go before me, my protector and warrior,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
Acceptance and peace are a crucial part of grief, and it occurs when one comes to terms with the loss of a loved one.
Accepting the death of a family does not mean you won’t feel sad anymore.
You may continue to experience complex emotions even if you move on, and such feelings can be challenging. When such confusing feelings threaten to rob your peace, direct them to God and let Him grant you calmness.
Here are some Bible verses to meditate on when you feel low:
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” — Psalm 28:7.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” — Psalm 30:11.
Check these prayers for the loss of a child.
6) Catholic Prayer for a Death in the Family
“Dear Jesus,
You wept at the passing of your beloved friend Lazarus and taught that those who grieve shall be comforted. Grant my family and I comfort for our loss. Send the Holy Spirit to guide us, lest we make unwise decisions.
Please fill our hearts with courage lest we fear and recoil from living. Give us peace, so that bitterness, guilt and regret don’t take root in our hearts.
Sweet mother Mary, who knew the extreme pain of losing your beloved son Jesus Christ, pray for us in our time of need.
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Glory be to His name,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
This prayer reminds you of valuable life lessons. The first is that it’s okay to cry when a loved one dies.
Jesus mourned the death of Lazarus, His friend, in John 11:35-36. We are also reminded that Mother Mary mourned the death of her son Jesus.
Though she knew His greater purpose was to die to save mankind, she still experienced grief. When you don’t know how to deal with the death of a family member, channel your petition to the Queen of Heaven, who understands your feelings of loss more than anything.
She can intervene for you, bringing encouragement and hope.
7) Prayer to Bless Family Member Who Passed Away
“God, I entrust my deceased family to You and ask that You bless their soul. Please give them healing and peace to let go of anything they might be holding onto here on Earth.
Let them move forward with Your blessings into eternal life and the beautiful home You have prepared for them. Sending my love to (person’s name) in Jesus’ name,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
Even though your family member has passed away, you can pray for their soul to find comfort and peace and let go of their earthly life.
This is especially important if they died unexpectedly and did not have time to come to terms with their fate.
Pray for the Lord to help them let go of any feelings that may be preventing them from moving forward and accepting the blessing of eternal life.
Furthermore, praying for a loved one who died welcomes God’s healing into your painful situation.
Before you leave, also pray these prayers for the holy souls in purgatory.
Can Any Family Member Say the Prayers?
Yes of course. We all need comfort and peace from the death of a family. So any member can say the prayers in private or communally.
Will the Prayers Really Help the Grieving Family?
Yes. Prayers can be an indispensable resource for the bereaved.
They offer special comfort during a season of grief. They can also help the grieving family come to terms with the death as they look to God for a greater purpose.
How Many Prayers Can I Pray?
Countless prayers. Whenever you feel the urge to pray, just do it. There is no limit to the number of prayers you can pray.
Final Thoughts
Losing a family member always causes grief. There is no denying it. And if you push the feelings away, they will only gather force and become more debilitating the longer you avoid dealing with them.
That is why prayer is incredibly useful for a grieving heart.
While it may be difficult to pray in the early days of a loss in the family, one or more of the above prayers may be indispensable as reality starts to kick in.
