“If there is something we need more than anything else during grief, it’s a friend that stands with us, who doesn’t leave us. Jesus is that friend.” ~ Billy Graham
“Oh Lord,” I prayed, “please give me the right words to say to encourage and comfort Jen today.” Although I’ve mentored Jen for many years, this was the first time I felt anxious before meeting her. The reason for my apprehension was that I have never walked through the pain of a tragic loss with her. I didn’t feel confident I would have the right words to console her in this time of grief.
It can be hard to know how to encourage someone that is grieving the death of a loved one.
A few months ago, Jen lost her best friend in a tragic car accident. Her friend was standing on the side of the a highway, helping a woman whose car had broken down. It was a snowy, icy evening. Unfortunately, a truck driver lost control of his truck and it slid on the ice, hitting this beautiful young lady, Jen’s best friend, and taking her life.
Lately, I’ve heard many sad and tragic stories of death and loss. Our friend, Eric’s 24 year old son, Evan, committed suicide. My sweet friend Eve, lost her precious husband, Dale, to a heart attack. And just last week we received news of a family friend who lost her battle with Cancer.
Grieving the death of a loved one is compounded by a multitude of emotions.
As I sat with Jen in her brokenness, I wasn’t sure how to console her. The Lord helped me though. I sensed Him whisper to my heart, “remind her of my love, my friendship. Emphasize my nearness.” I felt led to encourage her through His Word. So I grabbed my Bible and together we read a few Bible verses together. As we did this, I was reminded that in my own dark days, it was God’s Word that comforted me the most. His Word is alive and His nearness is felt through reading it.
If you are grieving today, may these Bible verses help soothe your broken heart. Hold on to God’s promises written for you in His word. His word will bring healing to your aching heart as you lean on the friend that understands you best, the friend that will never leave you. This friend is Jesus.
“You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.”
Psalm 56:8
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
This verse has often encouraged me in times of adversity and specifically with trying to make sense of things I don’t understand. Sometimes we may question God as to why He allows calamity. I’m not sure we will ever know this side of Heaven why tragedies are allowed, but we must learn to trust Him in the midst of them. I would rather walk with Jesus through my darkness, then to have no hope.
“It’s so hard to imagine life without her. I just don’t understand why.” ~ Jen
“You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.”Psalm 139:16
This verse comforted me when I lost my precious father a few years ago. It made me realize that God is sovereign and He has every day of our life recorded. The passing of our loved ones is not a surprise to Him, but a part of His perfect plan. This can be hard to accept when there’s a tragic death, but nevertheless, we must trust God’s will for each of us. As it’s written in Isaiah 55:8-9, God’s ways are not like ours. There are many things we will not understand in life, but as Christians, we must choose to keep trusting in God’s goodness, and trust that He cares deeply about us.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.“
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.“
Psalm 9:9-10
Although losing a loved one often causes feelings of insecurity, it is critical to hold on to Jesus. He’s the friend you need in your time of grief.
“Yet you are near, Lord...”
Psalm 119:151a
“But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength …“
2 Timothy 4:17
“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18
Whispering the name of Jesus is enough.
“Call to Me and I will answer you.”
Jeremiah 33:3
When grieving the loss of a loved one, you may not sense God’s presence but choose to believe, by faith, that He is with you.
“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.”
Psalm 18:6
“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.“
Psalm 30:5
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.”
Psalm 107:19
Grieving a loved one can bring on a lot of anxiety. The fear of a future without your loved one is overwhelming. Give your troubled thoughts to the Lord and allow Him to comfort you.
“Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.“
Psalm 23:4
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
“”Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God.
Peace!
Be encouraged!
Be strong!“
Daniel 10:19
One of the hardest things during a time of grief is finding peace. My friend Eve’s consistent prayer request after her husband’s passing has been for peace. Losing a loved one literally rocks our world. It’s a trauma that takes time to adjust to. Only God can give us the serenity we need in times of grieving.
“I need peace…..This is more than I can handle.“~ Eve.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
He is a mighty God that has numbered our days, until our last breath. It’s hard to understand God’s ways, but we must trust Him, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways and that He has a destiny for each one of us. We never stop missing our precious loved ones, but there will come a day when we recover the feelings of joy again. When my beautiful mother passed away 22 years ago, I remember thinking I would never feel joyful again. This is a lie from the enemy. Jesus, along with time, heals and we learn to adapt to life without our loved one. Give yourself tons of grace in this time of sorrow.
As Billy Graham said, “If there is something we need more than anything else during grief, it’s a friend that stands with us, who doesn’t leave us. Jesus is that friend.” In this time of sorrow, may you lean into Jesus with everything you have, and find comfort in His word, the Holy Bible.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13
Bible picture credit: Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com
Some photos by Anne Frantzen Photography (click on picture)
