Thessalonians : 13 We Do Not Grieve As Those Who Have No Hope
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
When my mom died, this passage from 1 Thessalonians was the one that brought me the most comfort. As a pastors wife, I have attended many funerals. I see a striking difference in the funerals of Christian families vs. non-Christians. This isnt a judgement, simply an observation.
As Christians who trust in Jesus, we are deeply sad but we arent overwhelmed with grief. We dont cling to the person as if this is the last goodbye. We know that we will see our loved ones again.
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For I Am Sure That Neither Death Nor Life Nor Angels Nor Rulers Nor Things Present Nor Things To Come Nor Powers Nor Height Nor Depth Nor Anything Else In All Creation Will Be Able To Separate Us From The Love Of God In Christ Jesus Our Lord Romans : 38
This verse says it so very plainly. In Christ, God loves us. We cannot be separated from that love, even by death.
The famous first question from the Heidelberg Catechism captures this idea perfectly:
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
Bible Verses For Healing After Grief
Like our grieving process, healing is personal and non-linear. We all go through it differently. But we all have the same healer: God. We may not see it now, but God never keeps us in a season if He hasnt prepared a harvest for us in the next. These comforting bible verses for the soul are the best words to comfort someone who lost a loved one.
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God Is Greater Than Our Hearts 1 John : 20
Your heart is feeling so many things right now. Pain, sorrow, regret, bewilderment. Longing and heartache. Love and anger. Confusion and fear, yet sweet joy at the memories of your loved one.
God made our hearts capable of feeling all these things, and it is right for you to feel this way. Your loved one was a part of your life, and therefore affected every part of your life. The loss is real, and your emotions are the proper response to such a loss.
God wants you to know this: He is greater. He is greater than the whirlwind of emotions. In fact, as he did with Job, he speaks to you from the whirlwind. He is greater than whatever your heart is going through right now, and he has promised that he will never leave you nor forsake you.
In 1 John 3:19-20, the apostle writes to reassure your heart. Heres the full quote:
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
God knows all even your grief. And he is greater.
Encouraging Scripture Verses For Those Who Are Grieving
Its been several years since a young boy in our town lost his life because another young man made the tragic choice to get behind the wheel of his car and drive drunk. Two families lives shattered because of a horribly bad decision. The young people in our town all knew the boy killed and they were asking Why? Why did God allow this to happen? At the time, they wanted justice, not mercy for the accused drunk driver. Both mothers were grieving for their sonsone gone forever, and another who would have life-long consequences for his actions.
- Shock and Denial
Shock is the initial reaction to loss. Shock is the persons emotional protection from being too suddenly overwhelmed by the loss. The person may not yet be willing or able to believe what their mind knows to be true. This stage normally lasts two or three months.
- Intense Concern
Intense concern often manifests by being unable to think of anything else. Even during daily tasks, thoughts of the loss keep coming to mind. Conversations with one at this stage always turn to the loss as well. This period may last from six months to a year.
- Despair and Depression
Despair and depression is a long period of grief, the most painful and protracted stage for the griever . The process typically involves a wide range of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Many behaviors may be irrational. Depression can include feelings of anger, guilt, sadness and anxiety.
Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?
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Bible Verses For Unexpected Death
18. “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
19. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. John 14:1-4
20. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25
21. “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.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
22. Therefore you too have grief now but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” John 16:22
23. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55
24. “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
27. “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1
Bible Verses About Grieving The Loss Of A Child
There are no words that can accurately describe losing a child, but Bible verses about the circumstances can help you feel more grounded. The following verses are about what might happen to children to help you feel a type of solace through your grief. If you know someone who lost a child, adding these Bible verses to a sympathy card can be a great way to show youre thinking of them and are there for them.
- 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.
- Philippians 2:20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
- Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 18:14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
- John 14:27 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.
- Luke 18:15-17 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.
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For The Lord Will Not Cast Off Forever But Though He Cause Grief He Will Have Compassion According To The Abundance Of His Steadfast Love For He Does Not Afflict From His Heart Or Grieve The Children Of Men Lamentations : 31
God does all things well. He measures the end from the beginning, and has set the span of our lives. So yes, He is sovereign over the things that cause us to grieve. In that sense, He causes grief.
Yet at the same time this passage makes it clear that causing grief is not His primary goal. Just a few verses previous we are reminded that The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
In the waiting we come to experience Gods goodness. As we endure these hardships, quietly trusting in His steadfast love, we come to know His salvation. Without trouble, what would we need to be saved from?
The promise is sure: He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love.
You Have Kept Count Of My Tossings Put My Tears In Your Bottle Are They Not In Your Book Psalm 5: 8
God knows. As you toss and turn, as the tears roll down, rest in the truth that God knows.
He doesnt know in a detached, all-knowing computer sort of way, but in a personal, close, intimate way. Instead, He counts each prayer and sigh throughout the restless night. He collects your tears and writes about them in his great storybook, which ends with every tear wiped away and all things made new.
Until that day, rest in the ending to this Psalm: For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. He knows, he cares, and he delivers so that you may walk with him in the light of life.
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Verses For The Death Of A Friend
Losing a friend can feel just like losing a family member. Grieving them will never be easy, but knowing that you arent dealing with it alone can always help. These Bible verses about losing a friend may be thousands of years old, but the speak to the shared human experience of loss. Keep these verses near and dear if youre struggling to find hope, or add them to a sympathy card if youre looking to send your condolences.
- Revelation 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.
- John 14:1-2 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God believe also in me. My Fathers house has many rooms if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- 1 John 3:2 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
- Luke 20:36 For they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Remembering A Loved One
Everyone will have a different way of remembering a loved one that works best for them. It might be lighting a candle in remembrance at church, or it might be making a memory quilt out of their old T-shirts. However, the best ideas for how to keep someones memory alive do the following:
- Honor the deceased in a way theyd have liked.
- Help you to grieve and process the death.
- Encourage healthy behaviors in the grieving process and discourage unhealthy ones.
- Work to reconnect you and other loved ones and cement community.
If youre looking for specific memorial ideas, weve provided two lists of our favorites for you below.
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Bible Verses For Comfort In Time Of Loss
This collection of Bible verses can provide comfort for someone experiencing loss. Give yourself the space and time to grieve. Be honest with your emotions. You dont need to grieve alone when you have the Holy Spirit to grieve with you. And, most importantly, dont lose hope. Believe that God is good and He can even use your loss and pain for His purposes. So today I want to offer some biblical encouragement for comfort in a time of loss.
Revelations 21:4: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer because the previous things have passed away.
Psalm 34:18:The Lord is near the brokenhearted He saves those crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 73:26: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
John 14:1: Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God believe also in Me.
Matthew 5:4: Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.
Psalm 9:9: The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
2 Corinthians 4:18: So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 5:8: And we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
Romans 14:8: If we live, we live for the Lord and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Bible Verses About Strength
When youre feeling weak, where do you turn for strength? Kenia has been in a race against poverty, illiteracy, failure and neglect her whole life. She and her two brothers were cared for by their grandmother in a slum in the Philippines.
But Kenia became part of Compassions child development programme and, thanks to her sponsor, she found that life might offer a different path. Today, aged 17, Kenia draws strength from her Bible and is set to fulfil her dreams of becoming an athlete. You can sponsor a child today and bring hope to a child in need like Kenia.
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Grieving The Death Of A Child
Losing a baby or a child is the hardest thing many of us have ever gone through. I know thats the case for me. How do I cope with the loss of a baby? What Scriptures emphasize Gods comfort and compassion for the brokenhearted? The Bible is full of verses for grieving the loss of a child that can remind us that God is with us in our pain, that He cares for us, that He wants to strengthen us through our hardships, and that through Him we have true hope and comfort. Lets look at some of these.
Greater Things To Come
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Its hard not to get caught up and focused on our present situation. We can forget that we have so much more to look forward to than what has caused this heartache. This doesnt mean we shouldnt spend time grieving the loss of a loved one.
Above all, we must remember that what God has prepared for us is so much greater than anything we are going to experience in this life. The hope that we have keeps us holding on and pressing forward towards our eternal reward.
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Scriptures For Loss Of Loved Ones From The Psalms
David was a man of great emotion and I am thankful that his words are available for us to read. They are written in pain and rejoicing, sorrow and faith and are perfect for verses for the loss of a loved one. These Bible verses for losing a loved one continue our goal of providing comfort and peace.
You are my hiding place and my shield I hope in Your word.
He heals the brokenheartedAnd binds up their wounds.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Fear not, for I am with you Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
Truly my soul silently waits for God From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation He is my defense I shall not be greatly moved.
God really did provide these Psalms for comfort and strength, didnt He? Our temporal bodies are subject to such pain and suffering. While these are not specific to Bible verses about losing a loved one, they are perfect to encourage and bring hope to those in need of it.
You number my wanderings Put my tears into Your bottle Are they not in Your book?
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His names sake.