10 Bible Verses to Help You Handle Holiday Grief

Holiday grief can be difficult to handle, yet God’s Word is a wonderful source of comfort when we are grieving, whether it is during the holidays or on ordinary days, all year long. Here are ten of the best Bible verses to help you handle holiday grief this season.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. – Psalm 34:18

Do you feel brokenhearted this holiday season? Maybe it’s due to a loved one’s death. It may also be due to a tough breakup, divorce, or even a pet’s passing. Holidays can be hard when you feel heartbroken. Yet the Lord promises to draw close to you when your heart is broken and your spirit feels crushed.

To draw close to the Lord in your holiday grief, spend a few quiet moments every day with him. He wants to hear your honest, unedited prayers, so feel free to pour out all your feelings before him. When you empty those feelings from your heart, he will be right there beside you, comforting you with his constant and loving presence.

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:22

Your grief may feel like a heavy burden during the holiday season. Maybe you are haunted by your memories that feel too heavy to carry alone. However, you aren’t meant to carry them by yourself. The Lord will carry your burdens for you. Give them all over to him in prayer. As you turn them over in surrender, as many times as necessary, you’ll start to feel the burden lifting. He won’t let you slip and fall as you turn your grief over to him.

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

Your grief means so much to God that he is collecting every one of your tears. He keeps track of your sorrows even better than you can do because he is both infinite and loving. Though no one else may understand how you feel, God knows just what is causing you sorrow this holiday.

You need not feel ashamed of the hurts and tears you are experiencing. God is collecting your feelings so he can show you more love and compassion. Turn to him every time the feelings well up in you, and you’ll experience more of his comfort.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3

Your broken heart needs healing that only God can provide. That’s why you need to spend time with him each day during the holiday season. He will listen to your prayers and help you find healing in the deepest places. God has created you for community – you are not expected to heal all by yourself. When you reach out for help from loved ones, friends, and possibly a Christian counselor, your healing journey will be more effective.

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” – Mark 14:34

Jesus understands your grief better than anyone. He faced terrible grief during the Passover holiday, which should have been a time of great rejoicing. However, he knew he would bear the sins of the world while he was on the cross, and the grief of this foreknowledge was awful.

It can be a great comfort to know that Jesus understands how you feel. He experienced grief and persevered through it with help from his Father. Jesus is walking beside you in your holiday grief and will help you bear up under it.

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

The holiday season may feel like a dark valley to you. You may feel alone and afraid as you start going through it. However, you are not alone, and you are being protected while you walk through the valley.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is already by your side as you step into this valley. He will protect you from spiritual attacks while you walk through this season together. He will guide you through to the other side when you can put this valley season behind you.

For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. – Lamentations 3:33

Sometimes people feel as if God is punishing them when they are suffering from grief. Especially at the holidays, which are supposed to feel joyful and uplifting, you may feel that your grief is a sort of punishment.

Yet this verse tells us that God doesn’t enjoy hurting us. He does not take delight in the sorrows we face. He knows we live in a fallen world that is marred by sin and suffering. Though he allows us to experience suffering, he never abandons us in it. Instead, he walks through it with us like a loving father who never leaves our sides.

I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. – Psalm 119:28

God’s Word can be a major source of encouragement during the holiday season. If you choose a verse or two that comfort you, you can meditate on them each time sorrow arises, and you’ll experience greater peace.

For example, if you are feeling weary from your sorrows, you can meditate on Isaiah 40:31. You can turn it into a prayer to ask God for help and reaffirm your belief in his power to strengthen you. Many verses can help you get through this season with greater encouragement. Choose one or two of them to carry with you on a sticky note. Every time you are sorrowful, look at the verse and turn back to God.

Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. – Lamentations 3:32

Our grief is not hidden from God. Since he is all-knowing and all-wise, he could see it coming before it ever happened. Yes, he could have stopped it, but in His sovereignty and wisdom, he allowed it.

These are the truths with which you may wrestle in your grief. But as you wrestle, God offers you compassion and unfailing love. He wants you to have an honest faith, not one just on the surface. God may use the hard feelings you’re experiencing this holiday to strengthen your faith.

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. – Revelation 21:4

Many people receive great comfort from this passage in Revelation. Though we have grief and suffering now, we won’t experience these hard feelings in heaven. If you lost a loved one who believed in the Lord, they are now experiencing perfect peace in his loving presence. This knowledge can be a soothing balm when you are dealing with holiday grief.

As you turn your feelings over to God, thank him that someday, all the mourning will be over. Praise him that in heaven, no more tears will be shed. Let him bless you with the promise of this verse.

Christian Counseling for Holiday Grief

Does your grief feel overwhelming this holiday season? We are here to help you. Feel free to contact our reception team to schedule a grief counseling appointment today. We will walk beside you in your grief. Give us a call today.