When someone we love dies, words often fail us. We want to say something meaningful in a sympathy card, at a funeral or in a quiet moment alone, but grief makes it hard to know what to pray.
This collection, beginning with a short prayer for the soul to rest in peace, is here to help. You will find simple prayers for a loved one who has passed away, prayers for a mother, father, spouse, child or friend, prayers for the grieving family, short messages to write in a card and Bible verses that bring hope.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
A Short Prayer for the Soul to Rest in Peace
Lord, receive the soul of Your servant into Your loving arms. Grant them eternal rest, peace and joy in Your presence. Comfort all who mourn, and help us to hold on to the hope of the resurrection. Amen.
Short Prayers for the Soul to Rest in Peace (For Cards and Messages)
These short prayers are suitable for sympathy cards, social media tributes, funeral programmes or a quiet moment of prayer:
- May God grant their soul eternal rest. Amen.
- Lord, welcome them home into Your peace. Amen.
- May they rest in the arms of Jesus forever. Amen.
- Father, grant them peace and their family comfort. Amen.
- May perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
- Lord, receive this precious soul into Your kingdom. Amen.
- May their memory be a blessing and their soul rest in peace.
- Jesus, hold them close and comfort those left behind. Amen.
- May the angels lead them into paradise. Amen.
- Rest in peace. You are loved and will never be forgotten.
Prayers for a Loved One Who Has Died
Each prayer below begins where a short prayer for the soul to rest in peace leaves off, giving you words for a specific person you have lost.
11. Prayer for My Mother Who Has Passed Away
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of my mother. Thank You for her love, her sacrifices and every prayer she prayed for me. Receive her into Your eternal home, where there are no more tears or pain. Grant her rest and peace, and help me to carry her love forward in my own life. Amen.
12. Prayer for My Father Who Has Passed Away
Lord, my father has gone home to You. Thank You for his strength, his guidance and the lessons he taught me. Welcome him into Your presence with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Comfort our family and help us to honour his memory. Amen.
13. Prayer for a Husband or Wife Who Has Died
God of all comfort, the one I shared my life with is gone, and my heart is broken. Thank You for every year we had together. Hold my beloved in Your eternal peace, and hold me too, in the long days and lonely nights ahead. Give me strength to keep living with hope. Amen.
14. Prayer for a Child Who Has Died
Father, there are no words for this pain. My child is with You now, and I cannot understand why. Hold my little one safely in Your arms, where nothing can ever hurt them again. Carry me through this grief, and remind me that I will see them again. Amen.
15. Prayer for a Friend Who Has Passed Away
Lord, thank You for my friend and for every memory we made together. Receive them into Your kingdom and grant them eternal rest. Comfort their family and everyone who loved them, and help me to honour our friendship by loving others well. Amen.
16. Prayer for Someone Who Died Suddenly
God, this loss came without warning, and we are in shock. We did not get to say goodbye. Receive their soul in Your mercy and grant them peace. Hold our family together as we try to make sense of what has happened. Amen.
The Eternal Rest Prayer (Traditional Prayer for the Departed)
For centuries, this has been the best-known short prayer for the soul to rest in peace.
Many Christians, especially Catholics, pray this traditional prayer for the dead, particularly in November and on All Souls’ Day (2 November):
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
You can learn more about this tradition on the All Souls’ Day page.
Prayers for the Grieving Family
A short prayer for the soul to rest in peace honours the one who has died; these prayers are for the people they left behind.
17. Prayer for a Grieving Family
Lord, this family is walking through deep sorrow. Surround them with Your love and with friends who will care for them in practical ways. Give them strength for the funeral, comfort in the quiet days afterwards and hope for the future. Let them know they are not alone. Amen.
18. Prayer for Comfort in Grief
Father, my heart aches with loss. Be close to me, as You promised to be close to the broken-hearted. Let me grieve honestly, without guilt. Send people to sit with me, and give me moments of peace even in the sadness. Amen.
19. Prayer Before a Funeral
Lord, today we say goodbye. Give us strength to stand, words to speak and grace to support one another. Let this service honour the life of our loved one and point every heart to the hope we have in You. Amen.
20. Prayer on the Anniversary of a Death
God, it has been a year (or many years), and today the loss feels new again. Thank You for the love that still lives in our hearts. Hold our loved one in Your eternal peace, and help us to remember them with gratitude as well as tears. Amen.
If someone close to you is grieving, you may also find comfort in our prayer for a friend collection, which includes a prayer for a friend who is grieving.
Rest in Peace Messages for a Sympathy Card
Add a short prayer for the soul to rest in peace to any of these sympathy card messages.
- “May God’s love surround you and your family during this difficult time.”
- “Praying for your family. May your loved one rest in eternal peace.”
- “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. Rest in peace.”
- “May the memories you shared bring you comfort in the days ahead.”
- “We are holding you in our prayers. May their soul rest in the peace of Christ.”
- “With deepest sympathy and prayers for comfort and strength.”
- “May God give you peace that only He can give. Rest in peace, dear friend.”
- “Your loved one is at peace with the Lord. Our hearts and prayers are with you.”
Bible Verses for Comfort and Eternal Rest
Read one of these verses before praying a short prayer for the soul to rest in peace, or write it in a card.
- John 11:25 – “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
- Revelation 21:4 – “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
- Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
- Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
- John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
- Psalm 23:4 – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 – “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
All verses quoted from the King James Version (KJV).
FAQs About Prayers for the Dead
What is a short prayer for the soul to rest in peace?
A simple short prayer is: “Lord, receive the soul of Your servant into Your loving arms. Grant them eternal rest, peace and joy in Your presence. Amen.” The traditional Eternal Rest prayer above is also widely used.
What does “RIP” mean?
RIP stands for “Rest in peace”, from the Latin Requiescat in pace. It is a short prayer that the person who has died will rest in God’s peace.
Do all Christians pray for the dead?
Christian traditions differ. Catholics and Orthodox Christians pray for the souls of the departed, especially in November. Many Protestant Christians focus their prayers on thanking God for the person’s life and comforting the grieving family. The prayers on this page include both, so you can choose the ones that fit your faith.
What should I write in a sympathy card?
Keep it short and sincere. Mention the person by name if you can, share a brief memory, and let the family know you are praying for them. The rest in peace messages above can help you get started.
Final Prayer for Those We Have Lost
Close with this final, short prayer for the soul to rest in peace of everyone you have loved and lost.
Lord of life and resurrection,
We thank You for every life that has touched ours and for the love that does not end with death. Receive our loved ones into Your eternal peace. Comfort every grieving heart, and keep us in the sure hope that one day You will wipe away every tear.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🕊️
You may also like: Prayers for Fear and Anxiety, Evening Prayer & Blessings and Prayer for Protection.
More Prayers for Hard Times
- Prayer for Help
- Prayer for Test Results
- Healing Prayer for Myself
- Prayer for the Dying
- Prayer for a Grieving Family
- Prayer for a Wayward Child
- Night Prayer for Protection
- Prayer to St. Jude
- All Souls Day Prayer
- November Prayers and Blessings
- Prayer for Healing
Naeem Khan creates faith-based and inspirational content focused on prayers, blessings, and spiritual reflections, helping readers apply timeless messages of faith to everyday life.
Every prayer and scripture reference published on Infoz Prayer is reviewed for clarity, accuracy, and appropriate context before publication. Bible and Quran verses are quoted from established translations, and articles are updated regularly to keep information accurate and helpful.