Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say or how to pray when your loved one is grieving a miscarriage or the loss of a child. The prayers below are dedicated to the families who know the heartache of loss all too well.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Loss, but these families don’t just remember their grievances in October. The hole in their heart is felt all year-round even as they begin to heal and time goes on. We’ve put together some Bible verses and ways to pray for your friend, family member, or even yourself.

10 comforting Bible verses and ways to pray for someone who has lost a precious baby:

1. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”- Psalm 34:18

God, we pray that you will draw near to these parents who are grieving the loss of their baby. Thank you that you are close to them during this time and that you will never abandon them even during the toughest and most tearful days. When they have days where they feel numb and unsure, please lift them up with your strength.

2. “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4

Lord, please comfort my friend and his/her family who is hurting right now because of the loss of their child. Would you give them peace today as they navigate through a season that they thought would look differently? Please wrap your arms around them and send people their way who will love them, provide for their needs, and who will walk alongside them through this time of mourning.

3. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 

God, sometimes it is so hard to not be discouraged when life seems to be shattered. The hurt and pain that comes from losing a child is unbearable some days. Although I know my friend’s heart will never fully be healed from the loss of his/her baby, will you please give them an extra dose of strength today? Will you remind them that they don’t have to fear the future because you are right by their side? Thank you for the way you help us and strengthen us during our heartache.

4. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. ” -Psalm 46:1

God, thank you that you promise to be our refuge, our safe place, our protector, and our shelter when we are battling through a storm. I pray that you would provide that shelter for my friend who had to say goodbye to their child. Help us to surround him/her with Your love during this time, and give them peace so they would know you love them and have not abandoned them. Give them the strength to take one day at a time, one moment at a time, and one step forward at a time.

5. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”- Revelation 21:4

God, we know that this baby is in heaven with you but we’re grieving the loss of him/her here on earth. It seems unfair and it’s devastating, but I pray that you would continue to wrap your arms around us as we cry, mourn, and remember the life of this precious child. Please be with the parents as they mourn the loss of the hope they had for their child. Wipe their tears when it just seems too heavy for them. Help them to know that you are in control and that there will be a day when all the heartache and brokenness of the world will be gone forever.

6. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”- Psalm 46:10

God, I pray that during the quiet and still moments where our mind is racing and our heart is hurting, that you would help us to feel at peace. I pray for the family of this baby who is grieving, that they would find quiet, peaceful, and comforting moments. We are weary and tired, God. We longed to get to meet this baby and see him/her grow up but now we won’t be able to. Help us to not become bitter or hard-hearted but to rely on you for strength and healing.

7. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”- 1 Peter 5:7

Thank you, God, that you care about us and that we don’t need to carry this burden alone. Please lift up our friends who are mourning the loss of their sweet baby. Help them to cast all their worries, concerns, hurts, and suffering to You. Thank you that you care about them and their baby more than we ever could. We pray that their baby would be honored and remembered forever.

8. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”- Psalm 56:8

Oh Lord, you know every tear that has fallen onto our cheeks. You know how painful and devastated we are at the loss of this precious child. Please help the parents to use their tears as healing and not to hold back or try to be strong on their own when it’s too much to handle. Thank you that you care about every single tear drop that falls from our eyes, it is not lost on you. Help us to mourn alongside these parents, and help us to continue to trust you moving forward.

9. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:19

God, during times like this it’s sometimes hard to believe that our needs will be taken care of. Forgive us if we’ve stopped trusting in the fact that you do care about us and will provide even during the loss of a life. We have watched our friends be crushed by the loss of their baby, and we pray that you will provide for them in the best way possible. Help them to fight any temptation of believing that you aren’t trustworthy. We know that we can’t see the whole picture and why this happened, but you can.

10. “You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”- Psalm 18:28

God, during the darkest hour you can bring hope and healing. I pray that for the parents who have lost their child. Please shine your light as we honor and remember this sweet baby who is now in your arms. Please remove any fog from our minds and heart and help us to trust that you are still good, sovereign, and that you care. You bring hope to troubled hearts. Please cast out any of our fears or worries.