Bible Verses for Mourning: Finding Comfort in Difficult Times

There are moments and seasons in life when it matters more than anything to be seen and heard. The things we think, feel, know, and experience matter and that affirmation counts at certain times more than others. When you go through loss and bereavement, it can be utterly devastating. It can unmoor you from everything that you know, and it makes a difference to know at that moment that someone knows, sees, and cares.

We all process loss differently. Some people want others around them, others want to be alone with their thoughts and reach out for connection when needed. Still others want that one loved one with whom they feel safe, and they can be vulnerable. Grief does strange things to us, and how we respond isn’t predictable. The main thing is to find ways to deal with the grief, and not to bury it.

One place to turn to for help in processing grief is Scripture. It deals with grief, often in its raw and unvarnished form, and it can help us to process our own grief as we see how other godly people made sense of what feels senseless.

Comfort from Scripture During Mourning

Often, when a person loses a loved one, they are said to be “in mourning” or “in a period of mourning”. This can make it sound as though there is a defined or limited time to mourn your loved one. In truth, grief remains with you for the rest of your life, and it’s mainly about finding ways to cope with it and do life without your loved one. The mourning may take a different shape, but grief remains a part of your life.

Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a cherished pet, or even the end of a significant chapter in our lives, grief is an inevitable part of life and a heavy burden that we must all bear. Grief can leave us feeling lost and overwhelmed, but we can find some comfort, support, and guidance from Scripture. Others have read and benefitted from these same words for thousands of years, and they remind us that we aren’t alone in the dark.

There isn’t a standard way to deal with grief, but the Bible can provide you with signposts in your mourning, and it can also furnish you with words to pray when you have none of your own. There is a whole genre of prayer called lament, with which to utter the soul’s deep cries of anguish and direct them to the Lord. The Bible provides us with comfort and peace as we hear God’s words to us.

Some Bible Verses for Mourning to Help You in Your Grief

There are many stories and Bible verses that can help us reflect on and experience our own grief. Here are a few of them that may comfort you and bring you peace in mourning.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18, NIV

This verse is one of David’s reflections on the time when he was in exile and on the run from King Saul. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s presence with us in our pain. We don’t know why we go through hard things, but we are reassured that even when we feel most broken and alone, God is near, offering His comfort to those who are suffering.

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.” – Revelation 21:3-4, NIV

These verses give us hope by providing us with a vision of what the future holds. A world without sorrow, a promise of eternal peace, and the Lord wiping His people’s tears from their eyes. It reassures us that God isn’t far off from us and that suffering and death won’t have the last word in God’s good creation. There is hope of resurrection and dwelling eternally in God’s presence (1 Corinthians 15).

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10, NIV

These words were written to remind and assure God’s people that despite the hardship they had experienced and would experience again, He was with them, and He would preserve them through the hardships. Sometimes when you go through it, you don’t know if you’ll make it. This verse is a reminder and encouragement to lean on God’s strength – He can give you the resilience needed to navigate your grief.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, NIV

Jesus’ words, spoken hours before His death, are a reminder that the believer’s life won’t be trouble-free. However, even in the darkest of times, His peace is able to keep us, just like it kept His disciples.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4, NIV

Psalm 23 is one of the more well-known Psalms, and again, it recognizes that life will have hard moments. But even when we find ourselves in the valleys of despair, the Lord is present to protect, guide, and comfort us.

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. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV

When we grieve, we don’t have to go through it alone. Not only does the Lord comfort us in our hardships and mourning, but others who have experienced that comfort can in turn comfort us. And when we’ve been comforted, we can also comfort others. Our struggles and suffering can equip us to offer support to others who go through the same things we do.

These and other passages can help us to work through grief. When we’ve encountered loss, some of the pressing questions include why this has happened, and where was God when it happened. The Bible reveals who God is; He is the God who is with us, who joined His creation and experienced death and was utterly forsaken. In Jesus, we know that God is truly with us, and He understands our experiences (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Making Sense of Your Own Grief

When you’re grieving, there will be some Bible verses that resonate with you more than others. David’s story in 2 Samuel which details his fractious relationship with his son might resonate with you. Perhaps Jesus’ grief over His friend Lazarus in John 11 feels closer to your own experience. These and many other stories can offer you comfort, assurance of the Lord’s presence, and knowledge that you aren’t alone.

Nonetheless, the journey of grief and mourning is unique, and it may raise specific questions, emotions, and thoughts for you. You should give yourself the room you need not only to feel your feelings, but to process them. You can do that by reaching out and talking with loved ones, whether that’s your family, friends, or your Church community.

You can also reach out and talk with a professional Christian counselor who has training in helping others work through their grief. Drawing upon evidence-based therapies as well as resources like Scripture and prayer, your counselor will provide you with the room you need to grieve, find strength, and healing. Contact our office today to learn more.