20 Bible Verses About Losing a Loved One
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
Sunday night I received the news that a longtime family friend went to be with Jesus. Although he was afflicted with a form of MPS, the same terminal disease as my daughter, Taylor, his passing was unexpected and unanticipated. His heavenly homegoing prompted my heart to share these 20 Bible verses about losing a loved one.
His mama tucked him in that night not knowing he wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I can’t imagine the shock waves reverberating through his family. My heart aches for them, and my prayers have been with them since hearing the news.
To tell you the truth, I fear the same thing happening in our family. Even though I lost my mama to cancer 16 years ago, there’s so much about grief and sorrow that I don’t understand. In fact, I think anyone who tells you they understand it all is not truthful. The emotions associated with losing a loved one are individual and unique; no one can fully grasp the grieving process. But I know my God is a loving God. He has not changed and will not change. His Word stands true, and I know to rest my faith on his promises. Today I wanted to share 20 comforting Bible verses about losing a loved one. I cling to these verses for my friend’s family, for our family, and for you.
Comforting Bible Verses
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 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 16:21-22
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?…You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:4&8
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:8&9
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3&4
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed….“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:52&54
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. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. I Thessalonians 4:14&15
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
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50
By his grace,
Rachel
10 Women of the Bible Free Ebook
75 Bible Verses to Help Manage Grief
14 Bible Verses For When I Can’t Understand God’s Plan
Praying the Promises Bible Reading Plan and Journal
Simple Bible Study Guide for Any Passage
You always do so well with encouraging me. I thank you. God uses you in so many ways. Please continue to listen to Him.
Thank you for these verses . Right now I am sitting in a hospital room watching my Dad sleep and knowing in a short time he will be graduating to Heaven to see his Lord and Savior face to face. I know these verses will give me comfort and peace in that time. Thank you so much
Bless you, Cathy. God is with you.
This is such a blessing to be reading this at this time. My former husband, who was the father of my children and my close friends was killed by a drunk driver on August 4th 2016. I have been struggling with my faith and I have felt so much pain and confusion. I think that reading this has helped me and I have a little more peace. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for sharing these scriptures. I lost my grandmother, my best friend, my rock and my biggest supporter in March. My heart still aches for her the loss but i find comfort in knowing that she is HOME in Glory and with our Lord and Savior and also with other loved ones who went on before her. I know that she is no longer suffering and that makes me so very happy. Thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for sharing that. My dad went home to be with the Lord in May. While we’re comforted knowing he’s well and whole again, we still miss him. :'( But God is good and He’s been with us.
The timing of this blog could only be from the Lord. This past Friday I checked on my mother who had been suffering a terrible sinus infection. She looked at me strangely and pulled away like she didn’t know who I was. I recognized this look as my husband’s grandmother recently passed from Alzheimer’s. I told my husband something is wrong with my mom, and my daughter described her exactly as I saw her.
We rushed her to the ER; she could not answer simple questions. She could not follow simple instructions. The doctor ordered a CAT scan. He returned later to tell us she had multiple tumors on her brain and was shipping her to another hospital.
We rushed behind the ambulance an hour away. Once settled in the hospital, we went home while her husband stayed beside. We promised to return the next day because we were leaving the day after to take my oldest son to college 7 hours away.
The next day we attended my second oldest son’s soccer game. Once it was over, we asked if our other three children wanted to see her because our van had broke down on Thursday and didn’t have room for everyone. They said no, they’d see her when we returned the next day.
We went back to the hospital and sat with my mom talking to her. She was frustrated trying to recall our names, but she knew us. While there she left for CAT scans of her chest and abdomen. She came back to the room, and we talked for a while longer. She asked where were my other children. My husband explained about the van and she replied, “Oh no!” I asked my mom how she felt and she told me, “I’m tired.” When we got ready to leave I asked if she would like to pray. She said that would be good. We prayed over my mom. My husband, son, and I said our last goodbyes and heard our last “I love you” that will ever escape her lips.
The following day, as we just started our trip, her husband calls with more bad news. Her body was riddled with cancer in her lungs, brain, and liver. She would be receiving a biopsy the following afternoon to determine type and treatment. Later that evening, after checking my son into his dorm and into our hotel room, the phone rang. Her husband stepped out to use the restroom, and she got sick in her sleep. She aspirated and flatlined. The staff performed CPR, but she slipped into a coma. She was rushed to ICU.
The following morning, the doctor performed another scan of her brain to determine there was absolutely no activity. I received the news driving back from my sons college. We headed home texting, calling, crying, and praying. My youngest son had his first home football game as a freshman. We watched a game he did not play in and immediately left to the hospital.
My youngest three children had to say goodbye to their Nana with a breathing tube in mouth and a IV in her neck. The woman, so full of life and happy to have recently moved out here to be close to them only two months earlier, was slipping away. They are returning one last evening and morning to say their final goodbyes. In five days time, my mom will be healed and celebrating in the presence of Jesus. While I’m overjoyed for her, I’m crushed that my confidante, my cheerleader, my nurse, my lifebearer no longer celebrates, cries, or cuddles me closely when I need her most.
OH Tatina! How my heart aches for you. I am sending you an email. Jesus, please be with this family and flood them with your grace and mercy. Amen.
Ameen Rachel, Realy its hard when lost loved ones, by the Grace of God we have Comfort and strength