Journaling prompts to help you process during a time of loss

By Thomas Moll
Director of Content & Innovation

Journaling can be a valuable tool in processing grief, providing a safe space to share whatever you need to before God, much like the psalmists did in Scripture.

Writing helps externalize overwhelming emotions, track your grief journey over time, and recognize God’s faithfulness even in dark valleys. It can also serve as a form of prayer when spoken words feel inadequate, allowing you to lament, question, remember, and ultimately find comfort in God’s promises.

Many find that journaling brings clarity to confused emotions, and it creates a tangible record of how the Lord sustains them through their loss.

Use the journaling prompts below to write over the next few days, weeks, or months. Take one prompt at a time to express your feelings related to your grief.
 

10 JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR GRIEF:

1. What are three specific memories with my loved one that I want to remember and thank God for today?

2. What does Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”) mean to me in this season of grief?

3. Write a letter to your loved one, expressing comments or feelings that you wish you could have said.

4. How have I seen God’s presence or provision this week, even in small ways?

5. What emotions am I feeling today, and can I bring them honestly to God in prayer on this page?

6. What Bible verse or hymn has brought me comfort lately, and why does it speak to my heart?

7. What do I miss most about my loved one, and how can I honor that aspect of who they were?

8. How has my church community supported me, and how can I allow others to help carry this burden?

9. What does the promise of resurrection and eternal life mean to me as I grieve this temporary separation?

10. What would I want to tell someone else who is walking through similar grief?