We recognize there are many among us who have only just crossed the invisible boundary marking their own before and after, who are looking at calendars today saying, This time last week, things were still normal.
For those who have witnessed the kind of scenes that could haunt for a lifetime, who crouched in fear for hours, whose senses have been seared with unwelcome, unthinkable sight and sound, we pray for a sanctified memory and a holy imagination.
Release them from the haunting, we pray.
For the parents, friends, co-workers, and family members who received final texts, phones calls, or heard no word at all, we ask for Your abiding presence to come beside, to stand behind, to walk ahead, to comfort.
For those who begin to shake when the low light of evening sends shadows long across the yard, we pray for peace.
For those whose sadness feels sharp like fear, soothe the jagged edges and bring relief.
For those who wait in the darkness groping for answers and finding only more questions, we pray for relief.
For those who have experienced loss but carry an odd-placed sense of responsibility, who can’t shake the unexplained guilt that lingers in the air around them, we pray You might calm the chaos and awaken their heart to Your love.
One day in the future, some may begin to feel like they should be over it by now; they may grow tired of going through the whole thing again, or feel pressure to heal already; for these we pray for the courage to let grief do her sacred, invisible work.
We recognize the many layers of sadness present among us, both the kind that settles like a cloud over a nation after terrible loss and the kind that bursts unwelcome into our homes.
May Your presence fill up and overflow the gaping holes that are left in the wake of tragedy.
Teach us to allow time and space for silence and sadness.
Guide us in our lament.
Heal us from our addiction to talking.
Forgive us when our words trample on the delicate ground of grief.
Live out Your Name among us, Emmanuel. Remind us you haven’t left us alone.
I shared a version of this prayer last year, but today it came back around. How I wish we didn’t have a need for prayers of grief. When we can’t do anything, we do what we can. First-responders offer medical care. Reporters offer perspective. Musicians write songs. As for me, I write prayers. We may be small, but we are not helpless. Come Lord Jesus.
Deanne says
June 13, 2016 at 8:13 AMYes Emily…thank you for your prayers shared with us. We can pray and it does more good than talking…it’s Jesus who heals the broken places and brings beautiful things from death. Your words are a gift and filled with peace. ❤️
Laurel says
June 13, 2016 at 8:43 AMBeautiful, Emily. A prayer well written and prayed over and over for a tragedy that is incomprehensible.
Rosemary Vaughn says
June 13, 2016 at 8:50 AMThank you Emily, for this beautiful and heartfelt prayer
Gail Noe says
June 13, 2016 at 9:25 AMThank you! For saying words that I struggled to speak. I am in agreement with this prayer
Corena Hall says
June 13, 2016 at 9:27 AMThank you. I can hurt for them because He has given me a heart of mercy. But I want to pray too that Jesus will be comfort and solace.
Love heals and works in the gap for my Jesus = Love ❤️
Gail Tucker says
June 13, 2016 at 9:30 AMA brilliantly inspired prayer reminding us, whoever and wherever we are, that God is with us and his lavish, amazing love is working amongst us.
Thank you Emily for listening to the Spirit and conveying these words.
Whitney says
June 13, 2016 at 9:35 AMA beautiful prayer….I will carry it with me throughout the day. So odd to have been downtown and only 7 minutes away when the sirens started going off. My heart breaks for our city and those lives take that night.
Julie says
June 13, 2016 at 9:41 AMThank you, Emily. I work at a Christian University in Orlando and so many of our counseling students and alumni as well as faculty have reached out to us sharing their services to any who may be in need of some counsel during this tragedy. Your prayer will also be shared with those whom I come in contact with. Thanks for all you do for so many.
Jerralea says
June 13, 2016 at 10:04 AMWhat a touching prayer! The words are beautiful; and I had to smile at this line: “Heal us from our addiction to talking.” Exactly.
Jean says
June 13, 2016 at 10:14 AMAmen! Our presence is comfort. Even when we are many miles away our spirits can be “present” with those who grieve. Thank you, Emily, for guiding our thoughts.
Jean
Patricia Ivie says
June 13, 2016 at 11:32 AMThank you for the grace filled and merciful prayer.
Bill Krafft says
June 13, 2016 at 11:49 AMThank you for the reminder that we can all do something. I struggle at the news of these massacres to wonder what are we becoming. The removal of submission to greater truths has created a culture where total disregard for life is common. I pray that we might also submit to these truths, in whatever form that they are recognized. That the submission to truths greater than us will allow a healing of minds to occur.
Jennifer leslie says
June 13, 2016 at 11:54 AMThank you for these beautiful words.
God’s mercy and grace is with you, may it be with us all. Much love.
Sandi says
June 13, 2016 at 11:55 AM<3 Thank you .
Betty Helms says
June 13, 2016 at 12:33 PMAmen! and thank you for writing this.
Marion says
June 13, 2016 at 4:23 PMBeautiful. Prayers for all the victims and those who mourn for them. Praying for peace and understanding of all.
Marion
Elaine says
June 13, 2016 at 8:02 PMThank you so much for this lovely prayer – I’ll share it with our prayer group
Beth williams says
June 13, 2016 at 8:58 PMEmily,
Lovely prayer. There was some good in all the madness. Orlando citizens banded together and worked to save each other. One man went to help a victim. He wrapped his own shirt and the victim’s shirt around the arms to stop bleeding. Helped him get to police. The amazing thing I heard was the young man told the victim “I don’t know if you’re a Christian, but I’m going to pray for you”. WOW! God can work miracles in the midst of tragedy! If nothing else we can pray long and hard for the victims, hospital workers, police, etc. Everyone involved in this tragedy!
Blessings 🙂
Linda Buckman says
June 14, 2016 at 9:27 AMThis is beautiful. Can I copy/paste it to my facebook page with a byline for you? In light of the events of the past days, it would be a comfort to so many people as well as a reminder that God is sovereign and still in control even though it doesn’t appear so.
Linda
emily p freeman says
June 14, 2016 at 9:48 AMHi Linda – I’m so glad this is meaningful for you. The best way to share it is to actually share the direct link to the post from your Facebook page like this: https://emilypfreeman.com/prayer-dont-know-say/ or even a few lines from the prayer and then the link. Thank you!
Peggy says
June 14, 2016 at 10:47 AMAmen and amen! Thank you so much for your heartfelt prayer written that we can pray and agree with in Jesus’ name and you’re so right, it’s so sad that once again from last year, we need to pray a prayer like this of grief and ask for the Holy Comforter to come and spread His loving arms to hold the heartache, memories and pain left behind in an empty place. Thank you Emily for your gift of prayer.
Karin Isbell says
June 14, 2016 at 12:33 PMAmen to the beautiful prayer!
Bernice Brady says
June 18, 2016 at 11:35 PMThis prayer is just beautiful, thank you.We in Australia join our hearts and prayers and our love with your country, so sadly again thrust into this heart-wrenching sorrow.May His arms hold you all tight.
Ellen Martin says
June 19, 2016 at 8:35 PMWhat a heartfelt and touching prayer covering the feelings so many have for the families and friends of victims of this senseless tragedy. May God bring comfort, strength, and eventually healing to all those affected. Thank you, Emily for this beautiful expression of love and sympathy.
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
June 27, 2016 at 3:58 PMThis is so beautiful, Emily! Saving this and sharing as well. Thank you for sharing such a lovely prayer.
Perry says
July 9, 2016 at 2:51 PMThank you for saying:
“May Your presence fill up and overflow the gaping holes that are left in the wake of tragedy. Teach us to allow time and space for silence and sadness. Guide us in our lament. Heal us from our addiction to talking. Forgive us when our words trample on the delicate ground of grief.”
there must be some reason that there is no real good words to say in the face of a loss.