When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to find the words to express your grief by praying. Funerals are a time to come together and remember the deceased, and prayers can be a powerful way to find comfort and peace during this difficult time.
This article provides a collection of Christian prayers for funerals, including prayers for the deceased, the grieving, and the eternal kingdom. These prayers can be used during a funeral service, or they can be read privately as a way to connect with your loved one and express your faith.
Prayers for a Funeral
We hope that you will find comfort and peace in these prayers.
Prayer for the Deceased
Lord, we come to You today to mourn the loss of our beloved (name). We thank You for the gift of their life and for all the ways in which they touched our hearts. We pray that You would comfort us in our grief and give us the strength to carry on.
We pray that You would receive (name) into Your eternal kingdom and grant them eternal peace. We know that You love them even more than we do, and we trust that You are taking good care of them.
Help us to remember the good times we shared with (name) and to cherish the memories we have of them. Help us to find joy in the knowledge that they are now with You and that we will be reunited with them one day.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the Grieving
God of all comfort, we come to You today with heavy hearts. We mourn the loss of our beloved (name) and we ask for Your strength and support.
We pray that You would comfort us in our grief and give us the peace that passes all understanding. Help us to heal from our wounds and to find hope for the future.
We pray that You would be with all who are grieving the loss of (name). Give them strength to carry on and to find comfort in Your love.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the Eternal Kingdom
Almighty God, we rejoice in Your promise of love, joy, and peace. Turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life, and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven; through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died, rose again and lives forevermore.
We pray that You would receive (name) into Your eternal kingdom and grant them eternal peace. Help us to know that they are now in a better place, free from pain and suffering.
We also pray for ourselves, that we may live our lives in such a way that we will be reunited with (name) in Your eternal kingdom.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
These are just a few examples of Christian prayers for funerals. You can also use your own words to express your grief and to pray for the deceased and the grieving.
Why Do We Pray at Funerals?
As a pastor's wife for over 22 years, my husband has conducted many funerals. At a funeral, he normally does a short sermon and allows the loved ones who are grieving to share special memories of their loved ones.
One other aspect that he never leaves out is prayer. Although the audience for funerals can be believers and non-believers, both can benefit from incorporating prayer into the funeral. Here are four reasons why we pray at funerals:
1. Comfort
The most important thing people need when they are grieving is comfort. Many scriptures communicate a hope that grieving loved ones will see their loved one again. Embracing this belief gives people hope that their loved one is in heaven.
Prayers of comfort also help people understand better who God is. Atheists and agnostics who can't fathom a distant God can get to know him a bit more through the scriptures. Sometimes pastors will give a message asking people to accept Jesus so that they can understand this reality.
2. Encouragement
Grief is almost always paired with deep sadness. When people feel like there's no hope for their lives, they want to be encouraged that God has not forgotten them.
Even if they have trouble publicly declaring there is a God, the scriptures can give the loved one encouragement during times of deep despair and regret.
Many people regret they didn't spend enough time with the person who has passed away. People can be greatly encouraged to know that they are never alone and that God is with them and sees everything they are doing.
He is omniscient and knows all. This keeps people encouraged that God is still in control even when the situation feels uncontrollable.
3. Communication
Prayer is a tool to help us communicate with God. We can communicate with God both in prayer with God and also in our listening. When we take time to be silent before God, there are times when we will feel God is speaking to us.
People who pray feel as though they are communicating straight with God. Even if they don't receive the result they wanted, pray, and ask God for his help to get through the deep sadness and grief.
This is a way for people to control their grief and hand over all their burdens to God. Communication also gives people a sense of peace when they know their loved one is in a better place.
4. Hope
Praying at funerals also gives people hope. When a pastor praise on behalf of the family, it makes them feel like they're not alone. It makes them feel as though their local church or Christian friends will be there when they need them the most.
It also communicates that even on their worst days, there's hope that God will use their situation for good and not waste their pain.
Bible Verses for Funerals
If you are asked to participate in the funeral of a loved one, here are some scriptures to comfort other loved ones who are grieving. The following verses are the most common in Scripture that clergy use when they want to pray:
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).
I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on the earth (Job 19:24).
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23).
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low (Psalm 46:1).
The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him! (Psalm 64:10).
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:1-2).
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low (Isaiah 26:2-5).
Comforting Scripture to Remember
Funerals can sometimes be awkward, especially for people who, steeped in their grief, have trouble expressing their loss. Their friends and loved ones know there's nothing that they can do, so they often come to the funeral to show their support.
Although funerals are not a happy occasion, the scriptures and prayers that are used throughout a funeral can provide hope, encouragement, and comfort to those who are in grief. Have these scriptures on hand and write them on a card to give to the loved one.
John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Romans 14:8 - For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
They may not be able to express their gratitude amidst all the attention they receive from many family members, but they will be able to look back on that card and be encouraged to know that they may see their loved one again. Funerals are also a good way to bring the gospel message to those who are unbelievers.
With this shift in perspective, come equipped with verses that will bring comfort and hope to the people you care about.
It is unnecessary to share those verses with grieving loved ones unless they ask, but simply keeping them in your mind in case they are needed can bring instant comfort to those who believe.
By doing this, you're supporting them even when it feels like you're doing nothing at all. Volunteer to pray at the funeral and bring the hope of salvation in Christ to those who need him the most.
For further reading:
What Does the Bible Say about Visiting Graves?
Does 'Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust’ Have Biblical Origin and Meaning?
Does it Matter What We Do with Our Bodies after Death?
What Should I Never Say to Someone Who Is Grieving?
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This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
