Tag Archives: comfort in grief

Jun1

Trusting Jesus in the Storm: Peace Beyond Understanding

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In Mark 4:35-41, we find Jesus and His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee when a sudden, furious storm arose. The waves were crashing over the boat, threatening to swamp it, while Jesus slept peacefully on a cushion in the rear of the boat. The disciples were terrified and woke Him up, exclaiming, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus stood up, rebuked the wind, and commanded the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Immediately, the wind subsided, and the sea was completely calm. He turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

This passage not only illustrates Jesus’ divine authority over nature but also His complete and wholehearted trust in His Father’s plan. Despite the terrifying chaos around Him, Jesus slept peacefully – a visual example of perfect peace in the midst of the storm and a faith that transcends the circumstances surrounding Him. 

As I read this story, I imagined the terror the disciples must have felt during the storm. (If you have ever been in a boat out at sea-or even on a lake-during a sudden storm, you know exactly how they must have felt!) But Jesus modeled the example for the disciples (and us) of how we should react to storms in our own lives.

Over the past 15 years, my husband and I navigated the turbulent waters of illness, caregiving, and, most recently, his passing. The storm hasn’t fully subsided; grief comes in waves, and some days feel more stormy than others. Yet, I continue to cling to my anchor of faith, trusting that it will hold me steady until the waters calm.

Just as Jesus slept through the storm, fully trusting in God’s sovereign plan, I strive to find rest in that same assurance. Even when the tempest rages, and the boat feels like it’s sinking, I remind myself that Jesus is in the boat with me, offering peace that surpasses understanding.

Perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation? God’s promises are true for you, too.

Hebrews 6:19 tells us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” This hope is not just wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in God’s unchanging promises. It’s the anchor that holds us steady when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm.

In the midst of grief and uncertainty, I find comfort in knowing that my anchor is not in my own strength but in God’s love and faithfulness. He is the one who calms the storms, who brings peace to the chaos, and who holds us securely in His embrace.

If you’re facing your own storm today, know this: You’re not alone in the boat. Jesus is with you, offering His peace and His presence. I pray that you, too, will find comfort in His unwavering love, His unfailing promises, and the hope that anchors your soul.

If you would like me to pray for you, please leave a comment here.

A Prayer for Peace as We Face Life’s Storms

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we endure the storms of life, we seek Your peace that surpasses all understanding. When waves of grief and uncertainty crash around us, please remind us that You are right beside us in our “boat,” and You are our refuge and strength. Just as Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, please calm the storms within our hearts. Help us to trust in Your sovereign plan, even when we cannot see the way forward. Anchor our souls in the hope of Your promises, and let us find rest in Your unwavering love.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Scriptures for Peace and Strength in Life’s Storms

If you need reminders of God’s unwavering presence and peace in the midst of life’s most turbulent storms, read these verses aloud. Meditate on each promise. God’s word is powerful and true – it’s a healing balm for your broken heart.

  • Isaiah 43:2
    “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
  • 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.”
  • Psalm 107:29–30
    “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.”
  • Philippians 4:7
    “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
  • Psalm 46:1–2
    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.”
  • 2 Corinthians 4:16–18
    “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day… For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
  • Psalm 61:2
    “When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
  • Matthew 11:28–30
    “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
May27

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: Divine Comfort for the Brokenhearted

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“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

I’ve read this verse (Matthew 5:4) many times, but only now—walking through a deep valley of grief—do I feel its truth in a way I never had before.

My husband recently passed away. Saying those words still doesn’t feel real. The sorrow comes in waves, sometimes crashing so hard it knocks the breath out of me. Other times, it’s a dull ache that simply lingers in the background of daily life. The kind of mourning Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount isn’t theoretical to me anymore—it’s present, and it’s personal.

For years, I couldn’t fully grasp how those who mourn could be blessed. Loss doesn’t feel like a blessing. Grief certainly doesn’t. But now I’m beginning to understand: the blessing isn’t in the loss—it’s in the comfort that follows.

I’ve felt that comfort poured out in beautiful and unexpected ways—from cards and phone calls that arrived at just the right moment, to text messages that reminded me I wasn’t alone, to meals left on our doorstep, and flowers that brightened a heavy day. Friends from all seasons of life—some near, some far— have shown up to offer help and support in this time of great sorrow. Through their presence, they have wrapped us in love and shared the burden of our sorrow. And there’s something deeply divine and holy about that kind of comfort. It feels like the very hands and feet of Jesus showing up in ordinary people who carry His extraordinary love.

Jesus knew the sting of loss. He wept when His friend Lazarus died. Even knowing He would raise Lazarus back to life, He entered into that moment of human sorrow and pain. He didn’t shy away from grief—He felt it. That’s the kind of Savior we have. Not distant. Not detached. But present. Tender. Compassionate.

When Jesus spoke these words—“Blessed are those who mourn”—it probably didn’t make sense to many in the crowd. It might not make sense to some even now. But I believe He was giving us a sacred promise: that we are not alone in our grief. That God’s nearness is most deeply felt when our hearts are most broken.

If you’re walking through a season of loss right now, please know this — God sees your tears, He holds your heart, and He will comfort you, often in unexpected and divinely soul-stirring ways. Even in your sorrow, God is near. The Comforter has not forgotten you. He draws especially close to those who are hurting.

Even in mourning, we are held. And somehow, even here, we are blessed.

A Prayer for Today:

In this time of sorrow, please remind us that You are near. Thank You for the people You send to wrap us in love and remind us we are not alone. Let Your presence fill the empty spaces, and help us feel Your arms around us even when the grief feels too heavy to bear. We trust that You are close to the brokenhearted, and we rest in Your promise to comfort those who mourn.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Verses for Comfort in Grief:

  • Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
    “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
  • Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)
    “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV)
    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…”
  • John 11:35 (NIV)
    “Jesus wept.”
  • Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
    “‘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.”

Sep12

The Collector of Tears

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Rainbow at Niagra Falls Canada

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 (NLT)

Is anyone crying?  God is listening.

In fact He cherishes you so much that He catches each one of your tears with tender compassion and records them in His ledger.  Not one tiny tear goes unnoticed by God.  You are precious to Him, and He cares deeply about your pain.

“This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says:  I have heard your prayer and seen your tears;”

Isaiah 38:5b (NIV)

If you are overwhelmed with a heavy burden of sorrow, grief, regret or heartache, your loving Heavenly Father promises to be close to you.  He keeps a watchful eye on His children, and His ears hear your faintest cries.  He comforts those who are crushed in spirit.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.  The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. “

Psalm 34:  17-18 NIV

If you are brokenhearted, you are not alone in your agony; the Lord is right there beside you.  He knows your most private anguish.  So when you feel like no one cares or understands, remember that God sees your weeping and hears your cries.  He keeps an account of your sorrows and collects each precious tear.  God even promises that those tears, like tiny seeds, will one day reap a harvest of joy!

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:5

 “The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces;” Isaiah 25:8b