PRAY: Prayer for Those Who Have No Words
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| Photograph © Andrew Pieper, 2012 |
Sudden and sad events have prompted this prayer. This week, our Florida community mourns the loss of a precious mother and her two young daughters after a horrific car accident. They’d moved from our area but, through family and friends, retained many local ties. Only a few days earlier, another area woman lost her estranged husband and three children in another awful accident.
I don’t know these families. But the news of the tragic deaths has filled me with sorrow. I’m asking God to turn my sympathy into prayer. I know what it feels like to hurt—and to have no words.
Although I haven’t lost family members this way, I’ve been in that place without coherent thought. I’ve walked through the valley of crushing weight and deep shadow. And I know what it is to count on others to lift me up when I could no more utter a prayer than I could reverse the tragedy.
At those times, I counted on the Holy Spirit to speak what I couldn’t. But I also counted on those who had the ability to connect their thoughts. I needed others to pray because I had no words.
So, for Lake County’s grieving families along with many more—Lord, I come to you today on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves. Their loads are too heavy, their burdens too great. The earthquake has hit. The tsunami has blasted. And the resultant losses have left them unable to do more than take the next step—and unsure if they can do that.
Oh God, come to these dear ones today. Allow them to press into you. Hold them. Comfort them. Surround them with your mercy. Let them see you over and over again in those who touch their lives.
Grant them, Father, the ability to remember your goodness as they look back to the past. Blanket them in your love. Give them solid strength for the day, sweet peace for the night, and bright hope for tomorrow.
Dear Jesus, use this time to bring each one near to you. Keep them safe in the name that calms all fears. Protect them from further pain, from the enemy who would wound them still more. And fill them, please fill them, with the assurance of your love and faithfulness so that, one day, they may dream of the future again.
As I pray for these who have no words, take my words and make them matter. Turn my anxious thoughts into action and my mourning into more prayers. I’m so grateful to call you Father and so honored to pray in the name that is always above all—AMEN.
Are you without words? Feel free to share your prayer need (even if it’s only a name) in a comment below or through an email. Your prayers matter as much as those for whom you pray.
What a beautiful prayer. Thanks for sharing. It is so hard to know how to pray for people and what to say when tragedy strikes. Good thing God knows our broken hearts. I will be praying this prayer often for these families. Karon
This is so beautifully kind of you to pray on their behalf. Haven’t we all been in that place where there were no words? I saw a statement yesterday in relation to Hannah’s prayers for a son that I will use forever: “She turned her tears into liquid prayers.” I hope that as we all join in support and prayer for those who are hurting that we too can turn our tears in to liquid prayers on their behalf just like you did. Thank you for expanding this. I am always moved by your #prayerkeepers. You are putting action to Romans 12:15 so well. Much love.
Thanks, Karon and Jevon. My heart has been filled with such pain for these families that I decided to put my distraction to better use. Your encouragement means a great deal. Our prayers will mean more.
The beautiful thing about prayer is that you DON’T have to know the person, have met the person, or even know if they are Christain. You may have never even “walked in their shoes”. If God lays the burden upon your heart, we are called to answer. When we can do nothing else, we CAN pray! I will continue to pray for this father’s broken heart, for the extended family, and all that knew them. May our dear Lord give peace. May we rejoice that the momma is holding her babies again in perfect love, and without pain or sorrow.
You’re right, Danyel, of course you’re right. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. And I agree–we can and will continue to pray even beyond these first days. Thanks for blessing us with your words.