“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV)
I had a different post planned for today—something lighter, if still important—but after reading the news, I realized it’s better to save that for next week. There are some serious and important things happening right now. First, several Israelis held hostage by Hamas have been returned to their families in Israel, thanks be to God! The Senate is also holding hearings to interview and eventually confirm Mr. Trump’s nominees for various cabinet positions and other key roles. While some of these hearings can feel more like a media circus designed to gather votes and attention, they’re still an essential responsibility of the Senate. Each of these topics deserves a post of its own and prayers, and I’ll likely focus on them next week.
For today, though, we need to pray for the families and friends of those killed in the tragic midair collision between the commercial airplane and the military helicopter. We should also pray for the rescue workers and investigators on the scene.
Sovereign God,
Thank you, Lord, for your great love and for your compassions that are new every morning. Thank you for never failing us, even when we don’t understand why certain things happen. Thank you for being close to the brokenhearted and for saving those who are crushed in spirit.
Today, we lift up in prayer the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the airliner-helicopter crash on Wednesday night. Regardless of the cause(s) of the collision, there are many left in shock and mourning the loss of their loved ones. We ask for your comfort to surround the spouses, children, parents, siblings, and all other family members and friends of the victims.
We pray that you will heal their broken hearts and bind up their emotional wounds. Wipe away their tears, Lord, and remind them of the peace and rest you offer, inviting them into your Shalom. Help them to turn to you for supernatural comfort and peace. Holy Spirit, cause the people of your Church to come around them with love, encouragement, hope, mercy, and peace.
We also pray for the first responders, divers, and recovery teams searching the Potomac River. May they have the necessary wise decision-makers, equipment, support, endurance, and courage to do their work well. We pray for wisdom and integrity for those investigating this incident, that they may uncover the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If changes need to be made to prevent future tragedies, we pray that you will remove any political agendas from that process.
Lord, comfort the grieving in all their pain, and help us to offer the same comfort to those around us, just as we receive comfort from you. We ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NIV)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3 NIV)
“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.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26 NIV)
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
(John 14:1-3 NIV)
“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 NIV)