19 Bible Verses to Bring Comfort in a Time of Loss

Loss is an inevitable part of life. Losing somebody close to you, like a family member or a dear friend, can be tough and overwhelming. Fortunately, you’re never alone in dealing with grief and loss. God is right there with you, even in the darkest of hours.

For many people, reading Scripture is an important key for recovering from grief and loss. Reflecting on God’s Word can bring you comfort and calmness to alleviate the pain. 

The benefit isn’t just for you, either. You can write Bible verses on sympathy cards or share them with somebody else who’s grieving, reminding them that God is also with them.

We’ve compiled this list of Bible verses about grief and loss to bring comfort and help you recover. We also have sample prayers to meditate on when you’re dealing with loss.

What the Bible Says About Times of Loss

The Bible reminds us that there’s a time for everything and that grief isn’t forever. As written in Ecclesiastes 3:1-4: 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,”

There’s never just one “season” in life. Today might be time to mourn, but you won’t mourn forever. Eventually, you’ll heal, and the time to laugh will come again.

Another verse that reminds us that grief isn’t forever is Luke 6:21: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Jesus promised that people who are sad today won’t stay that way forever. There will be happier times in the future.

The Bible also reminds us that God is always with us and that He is close to brokenhearted people, as written in Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

Bible Verses to Comfort Yourself in Times of Loss

Going through loss and grief isn’t easy. Fortunately, God is always there with you, no matter what. 

Read and internalize these verses about love and strength to lift your spirits when things seem too hard. These are God’s reminders that He is with you and that you can take refuge in Him during tough times.

If you have a family member or friend struggling with loss or grief, you can also give them Bible verses to provide encouragement and strength.

Here are our favorite Bible verses to comfort yourself (or others) during times of loss:

• Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
• Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
• Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
• 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.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “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.”
• Romans 14:8: “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
• 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.”
• Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.”
• Romans 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
• Psalm 23:4: “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.”
• 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.”
• John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
• Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• Lamentations 3:32: “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.”
• Psalms 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
• John 5:24-25: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”
• Isaiah 25:8: “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove His people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:21-22: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
• 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.”

Prayers for Comfort During Times of Loss

Prayers can help lift you from sadness and grief. More than that, prayers remind you that God is always with you, even when you're dealing with pain after losing a loved one.

Prayers are very personal and unique, but coming up with one can be tough, especially when you’re in deep sadness. 

Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Here are some sample prayers that you can recite during times of loss. You can also use them as inspiration to make your own prayers. 

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Prayer for Acceptance and Healing

“Dear God, You know my sadness. You know how grief weighs heavily on me. Please help me remove my anger and replace it with acceptance of your plan. 

I humbly ask for Your light and grace to heal the pain that prevents me from living my life. Guide my hand to find ways to cope with this loss that nourishes my soul and fills my heart with Your love. Amen.”

Prayer for Guidance From the Darkness

“Dear Heavenly Father, I pray to You to help me fill this absence in my heart. Grant me Your understanding of Your love, and help me understand Your plan. 

God, please show me the way out of this deep darkness and lead me into Your love and light once again. Amen.”

Prayer for Peace After a Loss

“Dear God, please help me rise above my sadness and sorrow. Nourish my spirit with your love and light. Heavenly Father, hear my prayer and grant me peace within my soul to fill this absence in my heart. Amen.”

Closing Thoughts

Loss is inevitable, and grieving a loved one is normal. Remember that God is here with you when you’re feeling deep in sadness. Read the Bible and say prayers to comfort yourself during these hard times. 

Recovering from grief alone is tough. Don’t forget to seek support from other family members and close friends. You can also seek support from your church members while channeling your energy into productive efforts like taking part in church events.