Unfortunately, grief and sadness in life are inevitable. When people we have become fond of or passionately love are suddenly no longer with us on this journey called life. It's bittersweet how memories of them make us smile and bring moments of joy. Yet we are saddened all the more.
After spending days, even weeks, in denial, the reality of loss finally sets in, and sadness and grief come crashing in like a tidal wave. However, great comfort is found within the pages of the Holy Scriptures that can help lift the dark clouds of grief and sadness that tend to linger after loss.
Those bible verses also boost us, like spiritual coffee, when we feel like we can't go on when mourning someone's death.
What is Grief?
Grief is caused by intense sorrow, usually brought on by the death of someone we loved or greatly admired. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. But the best way to do so is with the support of our family, friends, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, grief varies with each person because we all navigate a time of loss differently. Therefore, it also depends on the type of loss, the circumstances surrounding the loss, and how close the individual we are grieving was to us.
Generally, the time of mourning loss can last several months to several years but often becomes less intense as the days go by.
What is Sadness?
Sadness can occur in many different circumstances in life when we experience periods of disappointment and unmet expectations. However, sadness is the twin brother to grief in times of loss and mourning. You don't have one without the other.
As with grief, the emotional pain of sadness will begin to ease over time. However, as it relates to the death of a loved one, sadness may be present as well when we reflect on what could have been in the future if a person had still been alive. Moreover, sadness may also be the sentiment when we have unfinished business with the deceased and things are left unsaid.
Yet time spent reading scriptures and praying for strength and comfort will help us overcome the heaviest of sorrows.
33 Comforting Bible Verses About Grief & Sadness
1. John 14:1
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.”
2. Psalms 23:1-4
“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.”
3. Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
4. Psalms 6:6-8
“I am weary with my groaning; Every night I soak my bed with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye grows dim with grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.”
5. Psalms 34:18
“The Lord is near to the heartbroken, and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
6. Psalms 25:16-17
“Turn to me [Lord] and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are multiplied; Bring me out of my distresses.”
7. Isaiah 43:1-2, 4
“But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”
“Because you are precious in My sight, you are honored, and I love you. I will give other men in return for you and other peoples in exchange for your life.”
8. John 14:27
“Peace, I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.].”
9. Galatians 6:2
“Carry one another's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].”
10. 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
11. Matthew 5:4
“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
12. Revelations 21:4
“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.”
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.” – Revelations 21:4
13. Luke 6:21
“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”
14. Psalms 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
15. Philippians 4:6-8
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
16. Romans 8:18
“For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!”
17. Genesis 28:15
“Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
18. John 16:22
“So, for now, you are in grief; but I will see you again, and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy.”
19. Psalms 55:22
“Cast your burden on the Lord [release it], and He will sustain and uphold you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).”
20. Isaiah 53:4
“But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains.”
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21. Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”
22. John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?”
23. Lamentations 3:19-24
“Remember [O Lord] my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood, and the gall (bitterness). My soul continually remembers them and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind; therefore, I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”
24. Matthew 5:1-3
“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them, saying, blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].”
25. Philippians 2:20
“For I have no one else [like him who is] so kindred a spirit who will be genuinely concerned for your [spiritual] welfare.”
For I have no one else [like him who is] so kindred a spirit who will be genuinely concerned for your [spiritual] welfare.” – Philippians 2:20
26. Psalms 48:14
“For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even until death.”
27. Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].”
28. Psalms 9:9
“I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; The Lord also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
29. Isaiah 57:1-2
“The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart. Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands that the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil. He enters into peace [through death]; They rest in their beds (graves), each one who walked uprightly [following God’s will, living with integrity].”
30. Psalms 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.”
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31. Revelations 14:13
“Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on! Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”
32. Luke 20:36
“And they cannot die again because they are [immortal] like the angels (equal to, angel-like). And they are children of God, being participants in the resurrection.”
33. Nehemiah 8:10
“And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”
Final Thoughts on 33 Comforting Bible Verses About Grief & Sadness
Grief and sadness can be heavy burdens to bear alone. The way we survive is to lean on our support community of our immediate family, close friends, co-workers, neighbors, and most importantly, on the Lord. He is our greatest source of hope.
1st Peter 5:7 says, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him (the Lord), for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
Trust that the Lord loves you, watches over you, and promises to comfort you when overcome with sadness and grief and the future feels uncertain. Finally, the Lord will begin to lift your heavy burdens of sadness and help you find joy in life again. You just have to let him in.
