Prayers for Virginia Tech

As the nation reels in the wake of its deadliest mass shooting, many Americans are turning to their faith for comfort and guidance. Beliefnet offers prayers of solace, healing, and support from several world traditions.




Shelter in the Day of Trouble

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

...For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

I believe that I shall see
the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Be with Me, Lord

By Maureen Pratt

O Lord, I am torn up with grief. I know you are there, but I cannot see past my sorrow and tears. Be with me, Lord... guide me through these dark days and bring your light to my life, so that I may see your goodness, even in my mourning.

--Reprinted from "Peace in the Storm" with permission of Doubleday.

May Fear Be Cleared Away

Buddhist prayer by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden

May the pain of every living being
Be completely cleared away.
May I be the doctor and the medicine
And may I be the nurse
For all sick beings in the world
Until everyone is healed...
May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be freed.

Replace Evil with Good

Muslim prayer

To Allah we belong and to him we shall return.
Oh Allah, help me in my calamity and replace it with good.






Your Joy Will Be Their Strength

By Jim and Kaye Johns

Father, you're close to people whose hearts are breaking, those who are discouraged and have given up hope. May You who see their troubles and grief respond when they cry out. When they're hurting, help them find their joy in You, for ...Your joy will be their strength. Help them to trust You as their God of hope. Fill them with Your joy, peace, and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Strength to Carry Burdens

By Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet

That You come to save me--
this is not my prayer;
I ask for strength to overcome.
You need not comfort me by lightening my load;
I ask for strength to carry my burden.


Out of Dark Comes Light

Author unknown

God, make me brave for life:
oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain,
as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.

God, make me brave for life;
much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts,
let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.

God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.

Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

Healing Where There Is Brokenness

Kolot (Jewish studies group)

Blessed are you, Source of Life
Who helps us to bring
Light where there is darkness,
Healing where there is brokenness, and
Peace to all of the earth's inhabitants.



Hold On to What Is Good

Native American prayer

Hold on to what is good
even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold onto what you must do
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life
even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand
even when I have gone away from you.

Comfort for the Sorrowing

Gospel of Matthew

Blessed are those who mourn;
they shall be comforted.





God Restores My Soul

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd:
I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.