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Biblical grief affirmations are powerful for dealing with loss and overcoming the lies and fear threatening to take root.
Because while grieving takes place in the heart, it also takes place in the mind. In the weeks and months after Dan suddenly died, my thoughts churned on overdrive as I replayed what happened and tried to wrap my mind around the massive changes I encountered.
My circ*mstances screamed that everything good was behind me while the enemy planted lies of fear for my children and future.
Grief affirmations rooted in scripture tether us to truth when we desperately need it. Today I’m sharing 31 Biblical grief affirmations for loss with their supporting Bible verses.
What are grief affirmations?
Biblical grief affirmations are true declarations based on God’s Word, his character and his promises.
We need Biblical affirmations because we have an enemy working overtime to feed us lies meant to steal, kill and destroy. In my own grief, I could almost feel Satan trying to get a foothold into our family and finish off what loss had started.
But God has given us everything we need to fight and win the battle over our thoughts. Scripture tells us to take every thought captive to the truth of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) This means holding our worries, regrets, despair, fear and lies up to the truth found in God’s Word and replacing them with that truth.
Grief affirmations aren’t intended to make us skip over the hard emotions. We’ll feel despair, for example, but scripturally sound grief affirmations keep that despair from becoming permanent. We’ll experience fear but grief affirmations incapacitate those fears so we can move forward.
As we long for the life we had or wanted, grief affirmations help us trust that life can be good again.
How do you use grief affirmations?
One of best ways to use grief affirmations is to read one each day. Speak the truth over your circ*mstance and if you have trouble believing it, speak it out loud.
Pray through it as you apply it in your life, meditate on it throughout the day or—my favorite—journal through the affirmation.
Write the grief affirmation with its scripture on a sticky note and post it where you’ll see it during the day. Or text one a day to a friend walking through grief.
You can work through these affirmations in the order I’ve listed here or read through the list and choose one each day that meets you where you’re struggling.
1. My emotions are safe with God and he welcomes the depth and breadth of my lament.
“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of my grief…for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.” (Psalm 6:6-9, ESV)
2. God hasn’t given me a timeline for my grief. I can take as long as I need to process this loss.
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
3. It won’t always feel like this. God has promised to heal my broken heart and bind my wounds.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3, ESV)
4. No matter how dark or how long this feels, God will lead me through this painful valley.
“For 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, ESV)
5. This is too hard for me but this isn’t too hard for God. God’s sustaining grace will meet me and carry me moment by moment.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)
6. It’s okay to say this circ*mstance stinks and acknowledge this isn’t the story I wanted but I will also declare that God will be faithful in this to me.
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)
7. God’s goodness is at work for me even though this doesn’t feel good right now.
“You are good and you do only good.” (Psalm 119:68, NLT)
8. Though I don’t see a way through this grief, God will lead me each step and knows the way he’s taking me.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth like gold.” (Job 23:10, NIV)
9. Even if others don’t see the pain I’m carrying, God sees it, understands it fully and is with me in it.
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8, ESV)
10. God is not against me. God is for me.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who shall be against us?” (Romans 8:31, ESV)
11. God has not withheld good from me and will not withhold good from me. God is generous beyond what I can even see right now.
“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD bestows honor and favor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11, ESV)
12. My circ*mstance hasn’t taken God by surprise and I trust God who is sovereign over this unexpected path will use it for his good and glory.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us…. 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 8:18, 28, ESV)
13. God sees every tear I cry and gave me the gift of tears to help comfort in grief. None of my tears will be wasted.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6, ESV)
14. I will smile again. I’ll open my heart and life to experience joy knowing that it doesn’t dishonor my beloved one or discount my sorrow.
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, ESV)
15. I will not let fear keep me from moving forward because God goes before me in whatever this day holds.
“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, ESV)
16. I have hope because I’m held and loved by the God of hope.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, EV)
17. I can do hard things today because God is my strength.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NIV)
18. Though loss has brought massive change, God has not changed. So I can count on God’s character and his promises in this.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)
19. I will surrender my expectations to God and trust his plans are far more than I could ask or imagine.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV)
20. God has the wisdom I need for every decision I’m facing.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5, NIV)
21. God knows my needs and will meet them in his perfect timing and with his perfect provision.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NIV)
22. I will draw close to God in this and let him use it to bring much good fruit in my life and through my life.
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” (John 15:5, ESV)
23. God has significant purpose for me not despite the pain but because of this pain.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
24. I am beloved by God more fully than I could ever imagine. The cross not this circ*mstance is the measure of God’s love for me.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18, NLT)
25. I have every spiritual tool I need to overcome the enemy’s arrows in this situation. So today I put on the belt of God’s truth, the breastplate of his righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and with my feet firmly planted in his promises, use his Word to silence the enemy.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11 and following, NIV)
26. I unburden my overwhelming emotions, questions and needs today and rest in God’s love.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
27. I give my worries about ______________ to God and thank him for __________________, knowing that his peace surpasses my circ*mstance and will keep me grounded as life shakes.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)
28. I will choose to find loveliness in this life God has given even if every moment doesn’t feel lovely.
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV)
29. God’s love is at work for me even though I don’t understand my circ*mstances right now.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
30. I trust God with my broken heart and my pain and trust that He will reshape what has shattered.
“I would have lost heart,unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:13-14, NKJV)
31. I can meet this day with confidence because so far, my record of moving through tough days with God is 100%.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23, NIV)
