A Prayer About Suffering

A prayer about Suffering

When someone I love is suffering

Merciful God,

It’s a sad reflection on our broken world that suffering is a universal experience. I know that some suffering, such as illness, comes simply as a result of living in a fallen world. Other suffering happens as a result of sin, if we stubbornly go against your commands and then suffer the consequences. Whatever the source, everyone on earth has felt the dark shadow of suffering. Someone I love is struggling now and wondering why, and I don’t know what to say. Help me, Lord, to accept the fact that often I will not know why suffering has struck. Keep me from trying to explain it out of my ignorance. Instead, equip me to join in my loved one’s suffering—to choose to be wounded with my friend and so to bring comfort. Give me the strength to walk alongside, to point the suffering one to you, and to bring comfort and hope.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4