When you are grieving, Bible verses about grief can be a great comfort to you. They will remind you of God’s presence when you feel alone and encourage you with the unchanging truths about his character.
It may be tempting to shut God out when you are grieving. But you can get through the grieving process with greater peace when you invite God into your pain. He is eager to comfort you when you feel alone, sad, scared, or hopeless. Turn to the following Scriptures when you need a dose of hope in your times of grief.
To get the most from these verses, write them down and post them where you will frequently see them. These reminders of God’s presence will console you in your season of grief.
And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” – Mark 14:34
Jesus felt crushing grief. He knows how you feel. He doesn’t want you to feel alone in your suffering. Jesus asked for his friends to stay by him in his deepest grief, but they deserted him. So, if others have deserted you, Jesus can sympathize.
He not only wants to comfort you through prayer, but he wants you to reach out to others who can help you not feel so alone during this time. In addition to Bible verses about grief, a Christian counselor can be that kind of person for you.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. – Psalm 31:9
It’s not just okay to be honest with God about your grief – it’s recommended. The more upfront we are with God about our feelings, the deeper and faster our healing process will be. As the psalmist did, pour your heart and soul out to God, especially on the darkest days. Tell him exactly how you feel in mind, body, soul, and spirit. As you pour
out your deepest hurts to God, he will wrap you in the loving embrace of his presence.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! – Psalm 119:28
God’s Word is the perfect medicine for our weary souls that are weighed down with grief. In all its stages – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – grief can feel very heavy. But God’s Word is uplifting, and it strengthens us one day at a time as we go through those stages toward acceptance.
When you sit down just with your Bible, the Holy Spirit will enlighten your mind to the truths in the Word meant especially for you that day. You’ll receive wisdom from God each time you read Bible verses about grief, and that will strengthen you.
When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. – Psalm 73:21-23
When we are grieving, we may act out in different ways. A Christian Counselor can help you process the wild range of feelings you go through when you are grieving. You may feel like a senseless brute for a while, but you should vent your feelings in safe places like the counselor’s office rather than hold them in.
It’s also good to know that God doesn’t leave us even when our feelings are running wild, and our emotions lean toward sinfulness. He is holding our hands and walking with us as we process our grief in all its ugliness.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. – James 4:8-10
God knows we need to grieve. He even commands it in these verses. But we have a few other directives to follow during our grief process. God wants us to draw near to him and purify our hearts while we are grieving. He wants us to humble ourselves before him.
Grief is one of the best times to get to know your true self and ask God to clear out what you don’t need in your life, such as resentment and unforgiveness. As you put these Bible verses about grief into practice, God will grow your faith even while you are still grieving.
…to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3
The good news consistently proclaimed in the Bible is this: grief does not last forever. Yes, we will feel like we are standing in ashes while we mourn and feel tempted to despair. But God is planning beauty, joy, praise, and splendor for us on the other side of our grief.
You are not weak and forgotten in your grief; rather, you are like a strong oak of righteousness through which God wants to display his glory. Hold onto this hope, and you’ll get through the grief process with greater peace.
Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. – John 16:20
It’s easy to feel like everyone else is going on with life while you are stuck in your grief. This may seem unfair and even make you angry. Jesus acknowledged these feelings. Yet he also said that just as a woman giving birth forgets her pain and embraces joy at the sight of her newborn, so you will experience joy that replaces the pain of grief (John 16:21). If you hang onto hope even while you are grieving, God will someday replace your sadness with joy.
The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” – Genesis 41:52
Joseph suffered for a long time before he spoke these words. He was sold into slavery by his family, persecuted without cause, and sat in prison while he did nothing wrong. Those long years were seasons of grief for Joseph. But on the other side of this grief, Joseph was able to praise God for his blessings.
He could see that what others intended for evil, God intended for good (Gen. 50:20). You will someday be able to thank God on the other side of your grief. You can thank him in advance now for the blessings he will reveal to you in the future when your season of grief has passed.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. – Isaiah 51:11
When we focus on hopeful verses like this one in our grief, we can choose to see joy instead of perpetual gloom. God has gladness and joy in store for us, and when that time comes, our sorrows will flee. You can trust God to make good on this promise to turn your grief into joy.
Christian counseling for grief.
It’s good to meditate on these Bible verses for comfort and encouragement when you are grieving. But if you need additional help handling your grief, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified Counselor at San Diego Christian Counseling. In counseling sessions, you’ll gain insights into your unique situation and find biblical advice on how to move forward. Give us a call today to learn more.
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