Pray for those who have experienced the pain and heartache of losing a loved one this year.

Christmas can be an incredibly hard time for those who have lost loved ones. The pain and hurt is only magnified if this is the first Christmas without them.

I’ve always appreciated the way Eugene Peterson translated Matthew 5:4 in the Message. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives comfort to those who mourn saying, “You’re blessed when you feel like you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

Take some time today to pray that those who are hurting and missing their spouse or child or friend will be comforted by God. Pray that he will embrace them as only he can and will carry them through their grief.

Additional Scriptures:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV11)

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 NIV11)