Grief in May: Psalms for Healing
Grief in May: How I'm Using Psalms to Move from Surviving to Thriving (Join My 7-Day Challenge)
Do you have a month or season that feels heavier with grief than all the others? For me, it’s May.
The flowers bloom, the days grow longer, and everyone around me seems to be celebrating spring… but inside I feel the opposite. May carries the weight of anniversaries, memories that hit harder than usual, and that quiet ache that sneaks up when the world feels too bright. Maybe for you it’s the holidays, back-to-school time, or the anniversary of a loss that still takes your breath away. Whatever your “heavy month” is, you’re not alone in it.
For years I approached May the same way: white-knuckle survival mode. I’d push through the days, paste on a smile when needed, and wait for June to arrive. But this year I’m choosing something different. I’m learning (slowly, imperfectly) to thrive instead of just survive. That doesn’t mean the grief disappears. It means I’m being proactive about meeting it with truth, comfort, and community instead of letting it swallow me whole.
One of the things that has always brought me real comfort is the book of Psalms. These ancient prayers feel so honest and raw—like the writers understood exactly what it feels like to be worn out, overwhelmed, or drowning in sorrow. They don’t sugar-coat pain, but they always turn toward God in the middle of it. So I decided to spend the month of May reading and praying through a different Psalm each day. I’m inviting you to join me, even if it’s just for the first week to start.
Here are the first 7 days of my May Psalm Journey. I’ve included a short, honest prayer for each one so you can jump right in. Feel free to read the full Psalm, journal your own thoughts, or simply whisper the prayer when the day feels too heavy.
Day 1 – Psalm 6
God, I feel worn down. Please meet me in my weakness.
Some days grief just exhausts every part of me—body, mind, and spirit. This Psalm gives me permission to tell God exactly how I feel without pretending to be strong.
Day 2 – Psalm 55
I cast all my burdens on You, LORD. Please carry what I can’t.
When the weight feels impossible to hold alone, this is my reminder that I don’t have to. I can hand it over, even if I have to do it again and again throughout the day.
Day 3 – Psalm 23
Jesus, be my Shepherd through this valley.
The “valley of the shadow of death” feels very real in May. But so does the promise that I’m not walking it alone. My Shepherd is right here with me.
Day 4 – Psalm 91
LORD, cover me with Your presence.
On days when I feel exposed and vulnerable, I picture God’s protection like a warm blanket. This Psalm helps me rest in the shelter of the Most High.
Day 5 – Psalm 147
Thank you, Father, for healing the brokenhearted. Begin that healing in me.
Even in the middle of grief, I can thank God that He specializes in mending what’s shattered. This one gently shifts my heart toward hope.
Day 6 – Psalm 31
LORD, I place my broken heart into Your hands.
There are days I don’t even know what to do with my own heart. This Psalm gives me a simple, beautiful action: entrust it to the One who is faithful.
Day 7 – Psalm 69
Jesus, save me from the overwhelm—I feel like I’m drowning.
When waves of emotion threaten to pull me under, this cry feels so relatable. I love that the Psalmist doesn’t edit his desperation. God can handle it.
If you’re carrying grief this season, I want you to know your pain matters. It’s okay if some days you’re just surviving. But I also believe small, consistent steps—like opening the Psalms and speaking honest prayers—can slowly shift us toward healing and even joy again.
Would you join me? You don’t have to do all 31 days. Start with these seven. Share which Psalm speaks to you most in the comments, or tell me what month feels hardest for you. We’re in this together.
Here’s to choosing life, hope, and honest conversation with God—even (especially) in the heavy months.
With love and shared tears,
Anna
