Welcome to the Prayers of Rest podcast. I'm your host, Asherita Choochoo, and today we're praying for the family of a suicide victim.

Unfortunately, so many of our families and communities and churches have been impacted by suicide loss. And if that's you,

I invite you to personalize this prayer for yourself, for your own family. And if it's not you,

then I encourage you to pray this for someone who has experienced loss through suicide,

whether it's been recently or years ago.

These friends in our community need our prayers, and you can never go wrong by spending time

to bring them before the Lord in prayer.

If you have lost a loved one through suicide, then I encourage you to also make

time to listen to my conversation with Rita Schult later this week as she shares how God

proved his goodness and his faithfulness in her life after she lost her husband and how God brought people into her life to walk with her through

the grieving and healing process. You'll find that interview airing this Thursday or just go and

listen to episode 17 of season six of the Prayers of Rest podcast.

As we begin, take a deep breath as we become aware of God's loving presence around us and within us.

Today's passage comes from Psalm 18, verse 28.

My God turns my darkness into light.

So let's begin by reciting God's goodness.

Lord God, you are the light of the world.

Even in this dark place, in this dark time, thank you that we are not alone.

Even darkness is not as gloomy or hopeless when you are by our side. Thank you that you are the one who keeps us going,

who sustains us with your enduring presence and grace, even as we mourn the loss of our friend to suicide.

In our place of desperate need, God, you are near. You hear our cries. You bottle up our tears

and you never leave our side. Thank you. Thank you, God. So take a moment now to pause and reflect on how God has been faithful and good to be present,

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