WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GRIEF?

If you’ve ever made the journey through a season of grief, you know it’s a difficult and life-changing experience. There are so many emotions tying you up in knots when you experience loss. Plus, there’s a new list of things that need your attention. And everything feels different. Grief is a process that is a lot to cope with on your own. 

As Christians, we sometimes forget that we have a handy guidebook written by the Father to help us in times of sorrow and pain. Grieving as a Christian is a unique experience because you can find inspiration from God’s Word, giving you hope and encouragement during grief.  

Scripture To Help With Grief 

Let’s look at some Scriptures to help with grief. Because we witness some powerful grief situations in the pages of the Bible, we have an example to lean on. Think about Jesus and David, for a start. They both had intense grief to deal with. 

Jesus and Lazarus in John 11

In John 11, Jesus goes to Bethany, where He is to raise Lazarus from the dead. Verse 33 says that Jesus groaned in the spirit upon seeing Mary and the Jews who came to Him weeping. This groaning was the strong feeling of grief that Jesus experienced at knowing the pain of his loved ones. It is an overwhelming feeling!

The Holy Spirit is the great Comforter and takes our internal groans of sorrow to the Father. There’s great comfort in knowing we don’t need to say the words our soul is uttering in grief; He already knows. 

Verse 35 is beautiful because it is so simple but powerful.

“Jesus wept.”

God in the flesh is weeping at the death of His friend whom He loved. It’s a permission to feel and express our pains, even if some won’t understand how we’re feeling. 

King David’s Season of Grief

If you were to spend some time in 2nd Samuel, you would become a witness to King David and some very complicated grief. 

This man, who has earned the title “Man after God’s own heart,” had made some big mistakes. And David reaped a hefty price for his sins, reverberating through his children’s lives. By the time we reach Absalom’s death in 2 Samuel 19, David’s compound grief is begging for expression. Even though he understood that Absalom had become an enemy and a threat, it still devastated him to hear the news that his son had died. And all the more if he felt the guilt of personal choices that led to these circumstances. 

We can take some pointers from David by looking through the Psalms. How many of them start with some complaint or heartbreak, giving vent to David’s emotions? But every time, after his raw honesty, he shifts his focus onto God’s character, blessings, or promises. He expresses gratitude, praise, and trust. 

That’s the key. Acknowledge the reality of the problem, the cause of your heartache. Then remind yourself that you can lean on God, that he will be with you every step of the way. He’s trustworthy and compassionate, and he’s capable!

More Verses Dealing With the Grieving Process

The following scriptures show us we have reason to hope, even while in the midst of grief. They reassure us that every tear matters to our Father, that death is not the end for Christians, and that this state of heavy grief is temporary. 

We can cling to these truths even when everything seems to be falling to pieces because we can trust God cares. These Bible verses about grief can encourage you when you grow weary walking through the valley of the shadow of death and grief.

  • Psalm 56:8 Record my misery, list my tears on your scroll, are they not in your record?
  • Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
  • Isaiah 41:10 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.
  • John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
  • John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
  • John 16:22  So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
  • Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
  • Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 
  • Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
  • Revelation 21:4  “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.”

Christian Grief and Mourning

Even in our grief and sorrow over the death of a loved one, we can count on the God of all comfort.

God understands and can relate to us, right where we are. When we read the Bible looking for a way through the grieving process, God meets us there. 

It’s only natural to feel deep sorrow at the loss of a loved one’s life. God expects us to grieve in a time of loss. Even if you know their soul is saved, it’s still hard to accept never having another earthly experience with them. You won’t have interactions, loving words, or reassuring hugs. 

God understands your pain and grief. He asks us to talk to Him while we process major changes like death. The Holy Spirit, the great Comforter, offers us joy in his presence even while we mourn a loss.

If you are looking for a grief and loss curriculum for your church or grief group, let us help. Check out our website today and discover how you can help find hope during grief.