A Prayer for the Grieving Pet Owner

January 14, 2019 by Meredith 187 Comments

Oh merciful heavenly Father,

We thank you for designing and giving a purpose to animals from the beginning, giving them to us as our companions so that we would not feel alone (Gen. 2:18-20). All good things come from your hand, Father (James 1:17), including animals, which you called good (Gen. 1:25). You are the sovereign Lord of all creation, and all things were made by you and for you (Col. 1:16).

Thank you for entrusting your creation to us, and thank you for richly blessing us with our pets. The joy, love, comfort, laughter, and companionship we experience with our pets is a direct reflection of and gift from you. Thank you for allowing us to learn about who you are through your creatures (Job 12:7-9).

Lord, as challenging as it is for us to understand and reconcile death in this world, may we always choose to trust in your sovereignty and goodness. May we remember that we don’t deserve any good things due to our sin, and yet, you still abundantly give them to us (Matt. 7:11)! What a God of mercy and grace you are! Father, thank you for sending your Son to bear the weight of our sin and failures, satisfying your wrath, so that all who believe by faith in your name have the promise of eternal life (Eph. 2:4-10; Rom. 6:23; John 3:16). Death and condemnation are not our eternal reality (John 5:24). Therefore, we don’t have to grieve without hope like those who do not know you (1 Thess. 4:13).

Lord Jesus, life in this world hurts. And we know you understand our afflictions, grief, and sorrows more than anyone else (Is. 53:4-6). When we pour intense love into our pets, and they are taken away, our hearts sting. It feels like part of us is missing, part of us is empty. We yearn for their comfort, companionship, and love. Father, come near to us in our pain as we grieve. Pour out your Spirit of peace upon our hearts. Flood us with rest, oh God of all comfort. Cast out our anxiety and fears and replace it with your all-consuming peace. Destroy the depression and hopelessness that takes over. Fill our emptiness with your love.

Thank you for inviting us to cast our cares on you, for you care for us (1 Pet. 5:7). You aren’t a God who would tell us “It’s just a pet” or hurry us to get over our grieve and just move on, for you care about our deepest hurts. Thank you for coming close to the brokenhearted and saving the crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18). You are the God who keeps record of our tossing and turning in the night and our tears (Ps. 56:8). You are the God whose ears are always towards our cries (Ps. 34:15).

We look forward to eternity with you, Father, where “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them” (Is. 11:6). We eagerly await the day where you will “will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). May this loss of our beloved pet make us more eager to be in paradise with you.

We cry out in our pain and call upon your strength in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Photo credit: Unsplash

We miss you, Rudy Roo. You were taken too soon from us, sweet boy. But we thank God that he chose us to be your pawrents. You were a beautiful blessing from the Lord, a fur baby we will never let leave our hearts and minds. xo