Grief can often seem like a bottomless pit of sorrow and despair. But the Bible is full of comfort and guidance on how to approach grief and how to support people who are grieving.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God’s Word speaks to every aspect of grief.
Surprisingly the Bible even speaks of the importance of acknowledging grief and the pain it brings.
The Scriptures also speak about the support and comfort we can offer those who are grieving.
Romans 12:15 instructs us to “mourn with those who mourn” (NIV).
We can show those who are grieving that we are here for them, and that we understand and care when we support them in times of grief and pain.
We can fold them in our arms and let them cry, share our own stories of grief, and pray with or for them.
We can also find comfort in the knowledge that God doesn’t just care about us in our joy; He cares about us in our pain too. Isaiah 43:2 says:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (NIV).
Through grief, God still shelters us and provides us comfort.
The Scriptures also offer us hope and a reminder that grief won’t last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 states:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (NIV).
Grief will pass and we will have joy again.
The Bible is clear that grieving is never an easy process. But ultimately, it speaks of God’s guidance and comfort in our grief.
He walks with us and reminds us that there is hope and joy on the other side.
Knowing that God is with us can give us the strength to face our grief and grieve in healthy and productive ways.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
Healing after Grief
Although grief can be a painful and overwhelming experience, it should not hold us back from living our lives. We don’t have to be held captive to our grief.
The Bible reminds us that, although we are free to grieve, healing can and should begin at some point.
Jeremiah 29:11 says,:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).
Since God has plans for us, we should be actively seeking out those plans and allowing them to shape us.
We should also pursue relationships and experiences that bring us joy and fulfillment.
Romans 12:11 says:
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV).
We can honor the ones we lost and serve the Lord by living our best lives, allowing our pain to push us towards something better.
In our pain, God calls us to be more and to remain true to His path for us.
It doesn’t mean that our grief will disappear overnight.
It takes time and it is only natural to continue to feel sorrow and miss the ones we lost.
But that doesn’t mean that our lives have to be put on hold.
We can grieve, but also actively seek out opportunities to create joy. In this way we honor our loved ones and ourselves.
Finding Strength From God
We can find strength and guidance from God during this difficult time. We don’t have to go through this alone. God promises to never leave us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (NIV).
We can find comfort and strength in the knowledge that He is always with us.
God can also provide us with the strength and courage we need to take the next step.
This may mean seeking out professional help to work through our grief so we can move forward.
It may also involve learning to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and forgive others for their choices.
We can find out what it is that God has planned for us and gain the strength to pursue it.
God’s Word also reminds us to celebrate the life of our loved ones.
In Ecclesiastes 7:2 we are encouraged to “remember the days of old; consider the generations long past” (NIV).
We can acknowledge our pain and use it as a way to celebrate the life of our loved ones.
We can tell their stories and share our memories so that we can honor them in our grief.
We can also find peace, strength, and courage from the Bible.
There are many passages that speak about the love and comfort of God.
We can take comfort in the Scriptures and use them as a source of healing and strength.
We are reminded that our grief will pass and that God will be with us in each step of our journey.
Seeking Comfort in Prayer
Prayer can be a powerful source of comfort when we are grieving.
We don’t need to know all of the right words or feel like we’re saying the right thing; we just need to approach God with an open heart.
When we’re grieving, simply talking to God and expressing our feelings can be enough.
We can use Psalms as a source of comfort and take solace in the fact that we can pour our hearts out to God.
We can also rely on prayer to help us find the answers to our questions and the solutions to our problems.
When we’re grieving, it can be difficult to make big decisions like whether or not to move forward with a certain project or if it’s time to start looking for new opportunities.
We can rely on prayer to provide us with the answers that we need.
We can also use prayer to reach out to our loved ones who have passed and to talk to them in our hearts.
Even though they’re no longer here physically, they can still be a source of comfort and peace.
Talking to them can help us to give our grief an outlet and provide a sense of connection.
Prayer is a powerful way to get in touch with our grief.
We can pour out our hearts to God and find the comfort and strength that we need.
We can also talk to our loved ones and find comfort in knowing that they are still with us in spirit.
Praying can be a powerful source of healing during our grieving process.
Comforting Prayer for Grief
Dear Heavenly Father,
In the midst of my grief and sorrow, I come before You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
I find solace and strength in knowing that You are a compassionate God who understands the depths of my pain.
Your Word assures me that You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
Lord Jesus, You too experienced grief and sorrow during Your time on Earth.
You wept at the tomb of Your friend Lazarus, demonstrating Your deep empathy and understanding of human suffering (John 11:35).
You are not a distant God, but a loving Savior who walks with me through my darkest valleys.
I lift up my heavy heart to You, Lord, and ask for Your comfort and peace to envelop me.
Your Word reminds me that You are the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
I cling to this promise, knowing that Your love and grace are sufficient to heal my wounded spirit.
Father, I surrender my pain and sorrow to You. I trust in Your divine plan, even when I cannot comprehend it.
Help me to find hope in the midst of despair, and to trust that You will work all things together for my good, according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
Give me the strength to endure this season of grief, knowing that You are with me every step of the way.
Lord, I ask for Your guidance and wisdom as I navigate this journey of mourning. Help me to lean on You and find solace in Your Word.
May the truth of Your promises bring comfort to my soul.
In moments of weakness, remind me of Your unfailing love and the eternal hope I have in You.
I pray for healing, not only for myself but also for others who are grieving.
May Your presence be felt in their lives, offering them the same comfort and peace that You offer me.
Surround them with Your love and support, and may they experience the healing touch of Your hand.
Finally, I thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and compassion. You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
I rest in the assurance that You are near, that You hear my prayers, and that You will bring comfort to my grieving heart.
In the precious name of Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen.
Bible Verses to Overcome Grief
Here are ten Bible verses about grief:
- Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
- Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
- Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
- John 14:1-3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
- Psalm 30:5 – “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
- Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- 1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
- Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
- Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
These verses offer comfort, hope, and assurance of God’s presence and healing during times of grief.
Grieving As a Community
Grief can often feel like a lonely and isolating experience, but we don’t have to go through it alone.
- Find support in our friends and family and join together to grieve.
- Lean on each other for comfort and encouragement and pray for one another.
- Join together to celebrate the life of the one we’ve lost.
- Share stories and memories, sing their favorite songs, put together a photo album, and create art and crafts to express our love and admiration for them.
- Remember the good times and keep their legacy alive.
- Use grief as a powerful and transformative experience.
- Use grief as a way to come together and form new and stronger bonds with one another.
- Use grief as a reminder to always be kind and compassionate with one another and to take time to celebrate the lives of our loved ones.
Final Thoughts
Grief is a universal experience, but it can take on many different forms. As such, you can turn to the Bible and seek out comfort and solace in Jehovah’s words.
You can also seek strength and guidance from the body of Christ so that Satan doesn’t isolate and frustrate you.
In closing, grief if you have to, but you don’t have to grieve alone; you can turn to God, friends and family members as you wait on the joy that comes in the morning.
A husband of one wife, father of two beautiful girls, laborer of Lord, Jesus Christ, and a servant to God’s His saints. I hope to encourage you by God’s grace. Thank you for stopping by.
