Living Through The Grief of Loss With Help From The Scriptures

Grief is not something everyone has experienced deeply, but I believe everyone will at some point in their life. Grief visits us at the most unexpected times, often arriving when someone we love deeply crosses over into the next life. We can lean in and get some assistance from the scriptures for healing grief. It can also come when we part ways with someone who was once a close friend. We grieve our relationship with that person even though they are still here in this life with us. Grief is described as “hardship, suffering, pain, bodily affliction,” and it is certainly all of the above. It is also described as “all of the love that we wanted to give someone, but didn’t get the opportunity to.”

If you’ve never experienced deep grief, it feels like a part of you has died, yet your heart keeps beating. All your senses are dulled; for example, bright vivid colors don’t look as bright, beautiful smells don’t smell as fragrant, and soothing music doesn’t penetrate the spirit as it used to. This effect is due to a bodily response to immense pain. The body dulls the senses to try to dull the pain so that you can cope and go on existing.

Don’t Allow the Pain of Loss To Become Your Identity

We must be so careful because it is vitally important that we don’t integrate that dullness into our identity and make it a part of who we are. It serves a purpose, so when its purpose is fulfilled, we say “thank you” and then “goodbye” as we allow it to flow out from us onto its next purpose. At some point, we must deeply feel the pain and the loss so that the wound can begin to heal, and our Creator can go to work stitching us back together. You will never forget, and there will be times when you miss and yearn for that person or that relationship, but you can release the painful grief and learn to say “thank you” for the experience.

“God, thank you that I had a friend who was closer than a brother. Thank you that I met my soulmate and love them so deeply I can feel it across dimensions and time. Thank you that I know what real love feels like.”

Grief Doesn’t Have to Live In You Forever

People may tell you that grief is something you grow around and will never rid yourself of, but I am here to share some good news: that statement is absolutely false. You can let go of the grief, pain, and sorrow and hold onto the good. Hold onto the beautiful memories. Hold onto the love you feel when you picture their face. You are the one who keeps them alive here in this realm.

They no longer have thumbs here, meaning they no longer have a body or a mouth to speak, but you can be their mouthpiece. Be their spokesperson and keep their legacy of love, healing, blessing, or teaching alive by allowing them to speak through you. Allow them to bless people by blessing others in their honor. Say their names. Light a candle for them. Remember them. Remember them in a similar way that we remember Christ, allowing his beautiful legacy to flow through us. They are not truly gone or forgotten until we agree that they are, and they no longer have a voice here. Let’s say this prayer together and listen to some scriptures for healing grief and leaning into our love and memories.

scriptures for healing from grief and loss

Prayer for Healing From Grief

Prayer: Creator God, I thank you for a well of love that flows so deeply that it continues to flow even when we lose someone in this life. This flow can continue on into the afterlife, even though it looks much different. I thank you for loving us through our pain. Thank you for bringing forth healing and beauty from our pain and ashes. Even when it feels like things will never get better, we trust and have faith that they will. I thank you for the moment we are able to look back on our pain and be grateful not to be in this place of agony any longer. Thank you that that moment is coming even now, and as we plant this seed of faith, it is beginning to grow larger and larger, producing beautiful fruit and beautiful aromas of healing and grace.

May we remember our loved ones with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts, unclouded by grief and doubt, knowing they are still alive and well and have only moved on to another place. We love you and trust you fully, and thank you that you always have our best interests at heart and work out all things for our good. No matter what the enemy purposed them for, you always flip it for our good and your glory. Thank you. I love you. Amen.

Scriptures For Healing Grief

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! Psalm 119:28
In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. Isaiah 61:3
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31