Hi, praying friend!
Each Christmas (and all year long, actually), I marvel anew at the God of the universe taking on a cloak of flesh, the timeless One stepping into time.
Perhaps even more, I stand in awe of the One in whose very presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) descending to this broken, messy planet called Earth, choosing to become a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:5).
I can’t help but make the distinction that while my sorrows spring from things that happen to me, He chose them. And I’m not sure, but I can’t help but wonder whether that’s partly so He could sympathize with us in our pain.
So He could meet us there.
So He could know exactly what our broken hearts need, not only because He’s omniscient and He knows every thing about everything, but because He’s been there.
Is your friend experiencing a season of sorrow? Let’s lift his or her broken heart to the Lord. He’ll understand like no other.
Prayers of Comfort For Your Friend
- Praise God for His Word! For whatever was written in it was written for your friend’s instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures they might have hope (Romans 15:4). Ask Him to help your friend grab hold of His Word and cling to His truth during their time of heartache.
- Bless the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort! Thank Him for comforting your friend in all their affliction, so that they may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which they are comforted by God. For as they share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ they share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Marvel at the mystery of sharing in Christ’s sufferings, and thank Him for His promised comfort for your friend.
- Thank God for the truth that while God’s anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Praise Him that although weeping may tarry for the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5).
- Claim on your friend’s behalf the truth that those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Pray that God would help your friend say to Him, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2).
- Pray that God’s steadfast love would comfort your friend according to His promise (Psalm 119:76). Contemplate His faithfulness and His care for them, and consider sending a card to share this reminder with them.
- Thank Jesus for His promise that although your friend has sorrow now, they will one day see Him if they know Him as their Savior, and their heart will rejoice, and no one will take their joy from them (John 16:22). Share with Him your own anticipation of unending, unquenchable joy when you finally see His face.
- Acknowledge the truth that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Claim for your friend God’s assurance that those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:28-29). Thank Him that your saved friend is one of these divine siblings, and express to Him your belief that all things–even times of sorrow– are used by God to conform your friend to the image of Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father, our God of all comfort, there is special balm for our souls in the awareness that Your Son also experienced a broken heart (Psalm 69:20-21). He knows this pain; He is familiar with this ache. I pray that You would help my friend cling to You and the truth of Your Word in times of sorrow, running to You as their Comforter and the Restorer of their soul. It’s in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
I’ll see you back here tomorrow, when we’ll join hands and hearts once more, praying for our friends to flourish. 🙂
Click here to navigate to the main page and find Day 19 of the challenge.
