A Prayer for Sudden Loss

Loving God,
we come before you in shock and in sorrow.
This loss has come upon us without warning,
and our hearts are reeling.

We had no time to prepare, no chance to say goodbye,
no final words of love to offer.
The world has shifted beneath our feet,
and we scarcely know how to stand.

Hold us, Lord, in this bewildering darkness.
Steady us when we stumble.
Catch our tears, for they are many.

Grant us the grace to accept what we cannot understand.
Give us courage to face the days ahead,
even when they feel impossible.
Surround us with your peace,
the peace that passes all understanding,
and remind us that we are never beyond the reach of your love.

We entrust our beloved into your merciful hands,
trusting that you hold them safe and close.
And we ask that you hold us too,
until the day when all is made whole.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.