Scriptures to Comfort You During Loss and Grief
Loss comes in many forms in this world and our response of grieving is both natural and necessary. While in the moment of loss and grief it feels like the end of the world to us, and it often is the end of the world as we know it whether it is the loss of a loved one, a friendship, a pet, a job, a home, a business, a community…
I’m so glad that we can be comforted by the promises of God. I’m not saying that you read a Bible verse and you are magically transferred to a place of happiness. But they can comfort us amidst the grief. One thing I do know is that we can only be comforted if we let ourselves be.
In Scriptures, David went through many hardships and I have been able to most identify with his sentiments in Psalms in both times of grief and joy.
Scriptures to Comfort You During Loss and Grief
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds (sorrows).
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength (rock) of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall (do) not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters (waters of rest).
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths (tracks) of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (valley of deep darkness),
I fear no evil (harm), for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed (anoint) my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely (only) goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell (return to) in the house of the Lord forever (for length of days).
Matthew 5:3-5
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Sometimes we receive the most comfort from those who have grieved as we have. We feel understood and we feel like we’re not in this alone.
Psalm 56:8
You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?
Isaiah 53:3-6
We are reminded that Christ went through the same sufferings that we experience. He understands.
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
Romans 8:17-18
And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Lastly, we have hope that joy will return. In the moment of grief, I loathe the thought of being happy. I feel like it has been taken away from me forever. But hearts heal if we let them.
Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Lamentations 3:21-23
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I don’t think there is a “getting over” loss and grief. We move through it. Part of moving through grief is coming to a place of being thankful for what we had–and then for what we have. It may take time, but turning our thoughts toward good is another step in our healing.
Philippians 4:6-8
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is b]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
All Scriptures are taken from: New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Foundation Publications, for the Lockman Foundation, 1971. Print. (This is an affiliate link. If you click on the link and make a purchase from Amazon, I may receive compensation. Your price will stay the same, though.)
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