21 Comforting Bible Verses for Grief and Loss
Recently I lost a loved one unexpectedly. When I got the phone call I could tell from my mom’s voice that something was wrong. When she told me I simply said, “No. No. No.” over and over. I slept a lot and cried a lot. Grief sometimes looked like sharing good memories with family members. Grief also looked like buying $100 worth of squishy pillows to hold.
God is not threatened by our grief. Grief doesn’t mean our faith isn’t strong. We don’t have to rush through our pain to get to the “all things work together for good” part of the story.
Life is hard and painful. Loss is devastating. Some things we will spend our entire lives continuously grieving. But we do not grieve as those without hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13)
As I sat in my grief (and will continue to do) these Bible verses for comfort during loss were incredibly dear to me. I’m so thankful for the whole counsel of the Word of God forming my theology of loss and grief. I don’t see God as a vindictive monster snatching away my loved one, nor do I see Him as a helpless bystander. I see Him as a kind Shepherd: comforting me, weeping with me, and guiding even the biggest losses in my life into glory for Him and good for me.
21 Comforting Bible Verses for Grief and Loss
These comforting Bible verses for loss offer a gentle reminder of God’s love and presence during loss. Find strength and hope in these Scriptures for grief, and know that healing is a long journey we take with Jesus.
Genesis 50:20 — You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
Joseph in this passage is speaking to his brothers who tried to kill him and sold him into slavery. Years later, after he had forgiven them, they still felt fearful of his retaliation. Joseph after years of hardship, now sees God’s divine providence guiding, blessing, restoring, and working ever bit of his pain for good.
Job 16:20 — My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God.
In this early written book we see Job’s openness and authenticity before God. He’s not afraid to be sad, to be angry, and to ask why–knowing God is both a friend and intercessor.
Job 42:2, 5 — I know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted…I had heard reports of You, but now my eyes have seen You.
Job suffered immeasurable loss. After wrestling with God’s goodness and his circumstances, Job declared in these verses that while we don’t always know what God is doing, we can know HIM. (You can read more about that in this devotional on Job 42.)
Psalm 27:13-14 — I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
We will always see the goodness of the Lord, not because life is always unicorns and butterflies, but because the goodness of the Lord is the Lord. And even in the pain of losing a loved one, we can know God in deeper and more powerful ways as He comforts us in our grief.
Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
God’s nearness is one of the most comforting things during times of sorrow and grief. The simple prayer “God be near.” is so powerful at this time.
Psalm 139:16-17 — Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
In an unexpected loss we can find comfort in the truth that God sovereignly ordains our days. There are no “accidents” with God. Every day of our life was known to Him before we ever entered the world. He is always thinking of us with tenderness and care.
Psalm 143:7 — He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
God is actively healing and caring for those who are mourning and in pain here on earth.
Psalm 56:8 — You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
I love this word picture of God collecting our tears and storing them away. Each one is precious and matters to Him. The Message puts it this way:
“You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 — Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
When the people of Israel were facing exile, the prophet Habakkuk wrote these words as a reminder and a choice to endure with God, even in the darkest of days. If the worse happens–joy is still possible by the strength God supplies. No matter how high the mountain of grief we are climbing is, God will give us strength.
Matthew 5:4 — Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
While mourning isn’t a blessing, the gift of God’s powerful, beautiful comfort while we are in the midst of grief is a blessing.
Matthew 10:29-30 — Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
When we have a death in our family or friends, it is easy to ask “Where was God? Didn’t He notice or care as my loved one died?” This promise of God reminds us that God knows every intimate detail of our lives. Of course, He knows and He cares deeply.
Matthew 11:28-29 — Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Grief is a heavy burden, one we can boldly approach the throne of God with and lean on Jesus for healing and grace while we heal.
John 10:34-36 — Where have you laid him [Lazarus]?” he [Jesus] asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
I love that we see Jesus weeping at the death of his friend. Even though Jesus knew Lazarus was in glory, even though Jesus knew he would raise him from the dead. Death is still sad. We were made for eternity and death is heartbreaking–always.
Romans 8:26 — In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
In our groaning and grieving the Spirit is here with us, helping and interceding with and for us. If you are so torn about by your grief you don’t know what to say to God, know the Spirit is there translating each sigh, tear, and scream into a prayer before God.
Romans 8:28 — We know that all things work together for the [ultimate] good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
This verse can be weaponized by toxic positivity and it is NOT the verse I would lead with in comforting someone who has just lost a loved one, but the truth is there to comfort and sustain when they are ready to receive it. God can transform loss into legacy and grief into good.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.“
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 — Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
God doesn’t promise us a pain-free life, but He does promise us ETERNAL life in heaven with Him and a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to comfort us through the troubles life in this fallen world bring. I also love the reminder that our journey through grief may be the path someone else walks behind us on as well; in the future we can tell our story of how loss didn’t shake our faith, but led us deeper into the goodness of God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 — Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 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.
This video is a beautiful summary of walking with God through grief and the central message is derived from this passage.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 — For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
At the end of his life, while imprisoned Paul wrote these words. He had full assurance that salvation was waiting for him, Jesus was waiting for him, and he had accomplished the mission God set out for him on earth.
Hebrews 11:1 — Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
We can hold onto hope for ourselves and our loved one because our faith is confident. Jesus will keep His word and we will see our beloved friend or son or daughter or parent or sibling again one day.
Hebrews 12:1 — Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This verse of Scripture encourages me to remember those who have passed on have joined my personal “great cloud of witnesses” and, if I could pull back the heavenly veil, I would see them cheering me on as I follow Jesus.
Revelation 21:3-4 — And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
I memorized this Bible passage in 7th grade for my youth group’s Bible quiz team. I picked it because my Grandma had cancer at the time and it was a great comfort to me that one day she would be healed and in heaven, dwelling with God. Making her home with Him and He with her. By my senior year of high school she had passed on to glory. This Bible verse is still one I hold close for her and others in my family who have passed on.
Other Resources for Grief and Loss
- When Mountains Crumble by Danita Janae
- Even in Darkness: A Grief Journal
- A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
- Claiming God’s Faithfulness Bible Study
I hope these verses have brought you comfort in your grief. Remember that it’s okay to grieve, to mourn, and to feel the pain of loss. God is with you in this, and He offers hope and healing. Lean on Him, share your memories, and allow yourself the time and space you need to heal. You are not alone in this journey.
