Being in the ministry my husband and I come in contact with many people who are grieved at the loss of a loved one. Bible verses for grief and grieving can be very helpful to have in your heart when someone asks why God would allow such grief in their lives. Sometimes it is just good to listen and say nothing, but when the opportunity presents itself, be prepared with these Bible verses for grief and grieving.
Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
People Need Time to Grieve
... I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Genesis 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
Deuteronomy 34:8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
2 Samuel 12:16-17 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
Ecclesiastes 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Psalms 77:2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
Psalms 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Proverbs 15:13-14 glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
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.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Believers Have a Blessed Hope
Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Psalms 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
Isaiah 51:11 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.
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.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
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.”
Sources:
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
YouTube “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by The Martins
Welcome to What Christians Want To Know! The mission of this site is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians. Look for regular updates including Bible Verses, Bible Stories, Christian Quotes, Christian Answers, and much more. Find out 
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
god bless you
Thank you bulent, God continues to bless this ministry. All praise be to Him.
Pray for me. My mother and sister died in a car crash with two other vehicles.
I am so so sorry to hear about your Mom and sister. I came to this website looking for Bible verses for grief because my friend’s brother died suddenly on Sunday. I will lift you up in my prayers, and I will pray for you to be comforted. I lost my Mom 15 years ago. It is a tough challenge, but God is with you.
Shawn, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom and Sister. I lost my Mom and Brother the same way 17 years ago. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of them both. I miss them more than words can even say. Today I was told that my Aunt who is my Mom’s sister, will probably not make it through today as she is fighting lung cancer. Makes me sad to lose another family member:( Through my faith in the Lord, I know he is with me now and comforting me in my time of need and He is there with you too. I am praying for you. God Bless
Mr Shawn, I am so sorry this horrible thing happened to you. With love, I tell you, that God can change this horrible thing into something of his own. He loves you, Shawn. He is so good, He can bring you out of this pain, and restore you. Believe in his promises and in his word, so that he may do his work in your life. Psalm 23: Ye, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For thou art with me.
I am also sad, for bad things that are happening in my family. Right now, I remember all the things God has done for me in the past, and how he will never let me go. I hope you feel loved when you read this, because YOU ARE LOVED, Shawn.
Thank you for helping me to find the verses to comfort a friend in grief, as well as myself.
I came across this site in my time of need. I lost my son-in-law yesterday he had been working on his motorcycle and went to test drive it. Pulled out of his driveway and ended up head first into a brick wall 5 house from home. How can this be handled. I can only say please pray for my family that they have strength to go on. Amen.
Hello Lucy, I am so sad for you and your family. How can this be handled? By those of us who love you lifting you up in prayer. By those of us around you, holding you tight. By some of us saying nothing at all but just to let you know we are here when you need us. By the peace that passes understanding that only our Heavenly Father gives. You are in my prayers dear one. I also want to offer you this article that was written by Jack on our site:
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/
Draw near to God Lucy … He has you in the hollow of His hand even in this very grievous time.
Thank you for sharing these verses of comfort. This week, I lost my 31 week old daughter, Carris, due to an umbilical cord injury and am crushed by her loss but reminded that she awaits me in Heaven and one day, when death and sorrow and crying and tears have passed on, we’ll be together. Thank you for that, I needed it tonight as I wrestled with my sorrow. God bless you!
Hello Jennifer. I am so sorry for your loss. I will lift you in prayer for peace and comfort. Thank you for sharing your heart.
My mother just passed away this May 17 and even though she
received the Lord just a few weeks before she died, the enemy constantly tries to put it in my mind that she never made it to heaven because she was a Catholic. My father is devastated and can’t even look at her pictures, and he is not saved. He lost alot of weight since she died. It’s also, of course, that he hates the food in the Assisted Living place that he lives in. I pray for him all the time, but nothing has changed. He’s impossible. Please help me to trust him for the rest of my families salvation, including my brother and his wife and my nephew. I need God’s peace in this situation. My mother’s death is just really hitting me now.
Have strength and comfort in the arms of the Lord. He who grieves with you, will strengthen you and give you His peace. Worry not, and fix your eyes on Jesus. His grace is sufficient for you and your family. Take heart, look towards the heavens. He covers you with His wings, like a mother hen to her chicks. The Bible says whosoever believes – will live. Assuredly, she is in heaven. Have joy in your heart, for you are not alone. Look not to the trouble around you – but like Peter, fix your eyes on Him and His finished work. Rest in Him, and He will take care of everything else. Don’t worry, just rest in Him. Look towards the reunion in the skies, you will meet again. May the memory of her give you strength, knowing she is in a place where she is loved and always joyful. And she will meet you at the end of your journey. Till then, take heart, my sister. Shalom, Raphah. Rest in the Lord, dwell in His love for you. You are loved, and remembered in prayer.
I am happy to watch and see the Lord God Loving Thanku
I am so encouraged by sites like this. I lost my husband when I was 26 years old and we had a one year old baby. Several years later I lost my dad. When I needed God the most, He showed up in a very personal way to me. On the other side of my grief journey I vowed to help others in any way I can. Last month I published a grief book called Mourning Break: Words of Hope for Those in Grief. It’s my ministry of offering hope and encouragement through stories of people where God has brought something good out of their loss. Thanks for putting this site together and being the hands and feet of Jesus to those hurting from grief.
Hello Lisa. You have done the best thing you are able by using your experiences to give others hope. Romans 5:1-5 comes to mind. Praise God for you!
Thank you Lisa. To hear your praises lifts all of our hearts.
If you pray, please pray for my family. Due to differences in our lives, my husband and I are getting Divorced. We have a baby and another one on the way. I love my husband, but he is very cold toward me due to some past issues we have worked through. He is not saved, and does not have the desire to know God. No matter what happens, my heart grieves for his soul. Please pray for him. Thank you, so very much.
A good friend of mine took her own life & I am struggling to not be angry with God right now. Please pray for her loved ones and her soul, that she is in a good place.
thank you soooooo much for sharing this with us. God bless you!
Please pray for my healing. I lost my fiancee weeks to our wedding in a car crash october this year. If he had longlife,we would have had a long marraige. All i do is still imagine what i’ll have been doing if he was here. He was my greatest asset,completely compatable,we communicated and were committed. I dont know how to start healing,i believe its only God that can heal me because am completely devasted and all i do is cry. The pain is excrutiating.
I know exactly what ur experiencing. I recently lost someone very close to me to a massive stroke. Only 34 years old. And it hurts so much that my chest at times literally hurt. Friends and family say, with time it will pass. I don’t know, maybe. I too can’t stop crying and wondering what my life will be like without this person. I have been reading bible verses for comfort. But it doesn’t stop the enormous pain I’m feeling. I had only 6 years with this person. Very short.
Sorry about for your loss.
Tanx for da comforting side, I lost mi husband in october 2012, it was a short illness, we have 2kidz, It difficult for me 2 cope and accept what had happened,I sumtimez blame miself and feelz dat it was a mistake for him 2 die, do u think it was his time @ da age of 34 2 die
I just lost a frnd last night,she was frnd nd luvly daughter in her family,we known each other. Frm our primary age.today I just ask your prayer for her family to be strong.I don’t know what do ,right when we thank God for her amazinh progress nd change in her family .she leaves us
I have a close friend who lost her father a year ago March 7. She has been consumed with grief and has been suicidal. I don’t have the words to give her to uplift her. Please pray for her.
I lost a learner from my class last friday,when she was brutary murdered and raped,the rapist is not yet applihended.Its a great shock to the mourning family and the school at large.
On 14 September 2012, my 25 yrs old last born daughter a qualified pharmacist was involved in a car accident.The car caught fire and she was burnt extensively and died 5 days later in hospital.She was on her was to start work soon after qualifying.She was such a loving, diligent,down to earth and God fearing daughter. Tears are not drying from our cheeks ever since this happened.The way she died is hurting us the most.Please pray for us.
My Mother has gone to the Lord this morning and I am so stricken with grief that I find it hard to not cry when I thing that she is not with us any longer. I feel selfish because the Lord gave me a mother that was a teacher, comforter, friend, greeter, director, motivator and provider. She was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer some 13 years ago. Her first diagnosis was devestating. Every day she prayed to see her first Grand child be born….my daughter…..since then, the Lord has given her 13 more grandchildren to call her own. What a blessing, what a miracle, what a testimony to grace and promise from our Lord. I love and miss you already Mom…I will grieve for a lifetime and I can’t wait to meet up with you again.
My husband was not an ordinary man. He was the love of my life. He passed away on March 26, 2013. I continue to feel his love that we shared for 38 years. He was a powerhouse and a great man. He loved being healthy, a naturalist and he loved people. It was his passion. He shared many inspirations of encouragement, that came straight from his heart, on his facebook page. He touched many lives, men, women, teens, everyone. He was a kind and gentle man, and very courageous. He would stand up for anyone. He was a voice for the people and his passing came as a shock for many.
Reflecting on the last few minutes of his life, he sat down and passed out for a couple of minutes and I could tell something was wrong. I called 911. That night was the last time I would see him alive. He had been recovering from a car accident when a driver hit us on our bicycles one morning. Alphonso aka Butch, stepped over me and saved my life, but the driver never stopped. My husband ultimately ended up in intensive care for a few days and came home from the hospital, doing much better and ready and able for life again. We would enjoy each other for another year, before he would be called home to glory. I will always be grateful to my husband for laying down his life for me. He was truely my very best friend and his love for me will always live in my heart forever.
In My Husband’s Honor, you too can can enjoy his inspirations, on facebook.
Thank you for caring and thank you for listening.
On March 14, 2013 someone very dear and close to me that I loved very much had a massive stroke in our local rite aide store. Dr said by the time she arrived to the ER and they did a scan there was no brain activity. On the 19th she was declared brain dead and they wanted to take her off life support and get her organs. She was also an organ donor. Her family had a very hard time accepting that she was brain dead, they told the doctors they want to give her a fighting chance. Eventually the family agreed to take her off life support on April 1, 2013. While in the OR they took her off, and she started breathing on her own. The doctors did not have any explainings; only that she is not brain dead because when brain dead you cannot breath on your own so they stated that it appears now that she’s in a very deep coma. Unfortunately, my dear friend passed away on April 4th. I believe at that point she was ready, she went on her own terms. And the fact that she started breathing on her own, that’s GOD. That’s God restoring my faith in him, lettings us all know, doctors included he has the final say. I have been having such a hard time dealing with her lost. It hurts so much. I can’t sleep properly, can’t concentrate on certain things and I don’t have an appetite. She was only 34 year old. We were planning a get together for her 35th birthday which is on the 28th of this month. This is hard. I have been reading some bible verses for comfort, and I have good days and bad days. My mother is also in the hospital. Has been there for some time, and this person was very supportive when it came to my mother. There was a time I thought I may have to bury my mom and I discussed that with her; low and behold, she’s the one being buried not my mother my mothers still here thankfully. I just wish my friend was here too. Even though we were both raised in the church she recently started questioning faith and religion referring to herself as agnostic. Now that’s she’s gone, is she in heaven?? I’m going to need some type of grieve counseling.
Part of me is angry at her because she new she had high blood pressure and was not taking any medication. For a long time. She knew better. This death was preventable. But I guess it’s Gods will.
I lost my mother on the evening of 31 March 2013. She was so dear to us a woman who gave much and expected nothing in return. Everyone I look for comfort says it is normal but how I wish she was given another year. It was a sudden death and it has really affected us I feel i did do to her what she has done for me in my life time. I feel sad that who is going to enjoy the labour of my hands. It is painful, sad for me. Pray for our family
God is our comforter. Depend upon Him he will comfort you.
On April 7 2013 I lost my sweet baby girl in a single car accident. she was 20years old. I found this site and have been so encouraged by all the post and comments. I relate to bits of every post written. The sadness is overwhelming. I am a Christian and I know what I know to be true however this pain and thoughts of not seeing her everyday and hearing her talk and laugh, and hugs and kisses is so very hard. It has been one month since she’s been gone and I’m hurting bad. How do you stop the maternal instincts from one day to the next. I want to call her and she where she is what she’s doing, I want to see her. Is she ok, Is she scared, Is she looking for me??? Lord please help.
Emory, I am so very, very sorry for your tragic loss. The Bible says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and if she is with the Lord now, she is so much more joyful that she has ever been in her lifetime. The good news for believers is that we have hope that those who are not Christians have…we will see our beloved ones again some day. I don’t believe therefore that she is scared, looking for you or know what’s she’s doing. If anything, she is waiting for you.
My oldest brother passed away on April 18, 2013. He was not a believer and would always say”don’t preach to me”. So I didn’t. Over the years he spiraled downward with so many demons. Alcohol and cigaretts played a major part in his demise. Hurting people want to hurt others also..he and I didn’t have a great relationship but we did have a few good days. I brought him to live with me two years ago because he really didn’t have anywhere else to go. God really showed me something about myself (strength and faith) having to deal with an unhappy person and praying constantly for the last two years. If I had to do it all over again… I would. His spirit has been visiting me in the form of cigarette smoke at night…I need to know what to pray so I can get a good nights sleep and I have asked God to please let him in heaven. It’s just my opinion I don’t think he made it in.