When a friend is going through a difficult time many people say things like 'sending prayers, my thoughts and prayers are with you', etc. I'm always looking for a different way to express this without using the word prayers. I'll say, sending positive energy your way or thinking positive thoughts for you.
How do you express these sentiments?
I never tell someone I'm praying for them. I used to wish them luck. But then again, is there such a thing as luck? I now just say, "I'm thinking of you."
Always awkward to think of generalized statements, when each person has a specific situation, but a few ideas:
"I'll be thinking of you."
"Call me if there's something you think I can help with. If I can, I gladly will."
Or, "Wow! It's really rough, what you're going through. Hang in there, keep breathing, and be good to yourself during this time. You deserve it."
"How can I help?"
I left one funeral early to go to sears with the last person to see a friend alive and we bought installed a car stereo in silence.
I ran out and bought a ton of 2 liters of soda because my friend's mother was having people over after the funeral.
These are things I have been thanked for years later and so those are words I use in every situation and I mean them.
Just by being physically present, when possible. Silence is golden and i believe the more that a person speaks the worse it is.