Looking For Help in Your Loss? The Bible on Grief

Have you suffered the loss of a loved one and don’t know how to deal with your grief? Sometimes it feels like you just want to cry all the time and don’t even want to get out of bed to face the world. Doing normal things just feels so hard. 

To begin, I just want to say how deeply sorry I am for your loss; and that I want you to know that looking to the Bible on grief shows you that Jesus is with you. You can lean on him in this difficult time and look to the Bible to help you on your grieving journey. He will get you through this season. 

What Does the Bible Say About Grief?

Turning to the Bible on grief shows you that the Lord is close to you right now. 

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

He hasn’t left you—he is with you right now, in every moment. You are not alone—he will get you through this difficult time. 

Let him in on your grief. Share it all with him. Cry with him as much as you need to. Share your most vulnerable feelings with him. He is always available for you and wants to hear it all. Don’t keep things inside; let them out, expressing your deepest sorrow and pain at any time. He will comfort you. 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4, NIV) 

These are two good verses to comfort the grieving. Grief is a process. Although you will not forget your losses, with Jesus you can accept them and have peace; you can move on in your life and live out the great purposes he has for you. You will laugh again. 

Dealing With Grief in the Bible

There are multiple verses about death and grief in the Bible. Below you’ll find a few, and you can download a free resource with more to help you.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26, NIV)

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7, NIV)

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10, NIV)

“‘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 21:4, NIV)

The Bible on Grief

There are many mentions of mourning in the Bible. It is an unfortunate part of life but the Bible provides help for you in your loss: scriptures for grieving families, Bible verses for grieving widows, Bible verses about death of a spouse, Bible verses for grieving parents, etc. 

Whatever losses you have faced, God’s word will help you get through them to find peace and have acceptance. You can remember your loved ones, and the good times, and not feel crippled by your grief. 

You can move on to live your life; you didn’t die too. Don’t let life stand still in this moment forever. God still has much goodness ahead for you. 

Below, you will find examples of grief in the Bible to help you learn how you can deal with your own grief when you don’t know how. Remember that Jesus is with you and wants to walk with you in this. 

1. Don’t Hold Your Grief In

The Bible shows you that you should communicate your feelings. You should never just plow through your grief or stuff it down. Instead, allow yourself to cry and process your feelings with Jesus and others who are safe, trusted people. 

We see this when David and those with him grieved the death of Saul, Jonathan and their soldiers. 

“Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.” (2 Samuel 1:11-12, NIV) 

They openly mourned together and didn’t keep it in. You should do this also. Share it all with Jesus first, and then open up with safe, trusted people. Let them mourn with you. Don’t keep your feelings in; let it all out. Don’t pretend you are ok. 

2. Take Time by Yourself

Another of the examples of mourning in the Bible that can help you is when Jesus grieved the loss of John.

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13-14, NIV) 

You should take time alone to grieve by yourself in the presence of God. Get away from the noise of the world—the hustle and bustle and the responsibilities that might be weighing on you. 

You can be still in his presence and just sit. You can cry. You don’t have to do anything specific or place expectations on the time. 

Make it a point to take time by yourself. Go into his creation, pray for hours sharing your heart and your worries about life without this person you lost. Let him speak to you in the quiet moments. Be by yourself with him, expressing yourself as needed. It will help you to move forward, as Jesus did.

3. Mourn as Needed

When a loved one passes, it affects you for a long time. This means that your mourning can come and go. Even though years have gone by, you will still remember. 

There is no time frame in which you have to be done mourning. You can allow yourself to mourn when the feelings come up but then move forward with life. 

You can see this sorrow in the Bible when Joseph lost his father Jacob in Genesis 50:1-11. He mourned at his initial passing: 

“Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.” (Genesis 50:1, NIV) 

He goes to bury him and he mourns more: 

“When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.” (Genesis 50:10, NIV) 

Certain dates or reminders will bring back mourning, and that is ok. Let those feelings out, cry with Jesus and others too. Share your feelings with him and mourn as need be. But then move forward. He has great plans for you. 

What does God say about grief? Turning to the Bible on grief shows you that Jesus will comfort you and remind you that he is with you. A Christian response to death of a loved one means you know what the Bible says to help you deal with your grief when you don’t know how. 

The three above examples of mourning in the Bible show you that you shouldn’t hold your grief in, that you should take time by yourself, and that you should mourn as needed. Trusting God after losing a loved one is important. Knowing these examples of grief in the Bible will help you. You are not alone in this; he will get you through.