Tag Archives: grief

Comforting Grace: A Word for the Grieving Heart

Standard

To the one who is grieving, I see you.

I may not know your whole story, but I know the ache of an empty chair, the silence that fills the rooms of a home, the whisper of memories that come unbidden in the stillness of night, and the unexpected tears that fall when the world keeps turning. I know how your heart may feel like it’s walking through a landscape that has changed forever.

But I also know this: God sees you.

The same God who set the stars in the sky, who parted the sea, and who holds the universe together —He bends down to listen to the cries of the brokenhearted.

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2)

You may feel forgotten or overlooked by the world, but in God’s eyes, you are deeply cherished.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

He does not rush your grief, nor does He ignore your tears. In fact, He gathers them in His bottle and draws near with a tenderness only heaven can give.

“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)

There will be days when the sorrow threatens to swallow your joy whole. On those days, cling to this truth: You are not alone. Christ Himself knows what it is to grieve, and He walks this road beside you, step by step. And in time, He will speak life into the places that feel so empty.

Your tears are sacred. Your story still matters. And your God is still creating beauty from ashes.

Even in this dark valley, you are not forgotten. Even in your loss, you are deeply loved. And even as you grieve, God is preparing joy that will one day return. He promises:

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

Until that morning dawns, rest in this: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not walking alone.

With love and faith,

From the heart of one who knows

A Prayer for the Grieving Heart

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God who sees. In the quiet spaces where sorrow lingers, draw near to every grieving heart. Wrap each hurting soul in Your peace that surpasses understanding. Speak hope into the silence, strength into the weariness, and comfort into the loneliness. Thank you for being near to the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Related Verses:

  • “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
  • “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:5
  • “He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair” Isaiah 61:3
  • “Those who sow in tears will reap with a song of joy.” Psalm 126:5



Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: Divine Comfort for the Brokenhearted

Standard

“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.”

1000 Goodbyes

Standard

I lose you in whispers, in fragments, in haze,

A slow aching drift through the passage of days.

Your laughter still lingers, yet fades from your eyes,

And I grieve you in echoes, in silent goodbyes.

~

I see you in glimpses – some moments so clear,

When time folds its hands and you’re suddenly here.

You reach for my hand, but the grasp slips away,

Like a tide pulling memories out further each day.

~

You search for the past like a book with lost pages,

A story rewritten, in sorrowful stages.

The moments you lose, I will tenderly keep,

Holding them safe as I mournfully weep.

~

Life’s tapestry woven with love through the years,

Unravels so slowly in heartache and tears.

Each thread that is lost holds a memory so dear,

Yet love still remains, though the fabric grows sheer.

~

I’ll gather the moments and keep them inside,

The laughter, the love, the years filled with pride.

I’ll hold all our memories for both me and you,

A keeper of stories, of all we once knew.

~

If you lose your way, if you feel alone,

I’ll always be your compass home.

A constant light when the path is unclear,

A love that whispers, “I’m always here.”

~

I walk this slow road, though burdened with pain,

Through shadows that linger, through sorrow’s refrain.

Through a thousand more losses, a thousand goodbyes –

Yet love, never fading, still brightens my skies.

~

Note from the Author:
This post is different from what I usually share here on Everyday Encouragement, but if you’ve ever loved someone with memory loss, you understand. Dementia is a slow, heartbreaking goodbye—one that comes in pieces, fading like whispers over time. If you’re walking this road, you’re not alone. When our own strength fails, God is our refuge, our steady rock, and the One who carries us through. His grace is enough, even in the hardest moments. May you find comfort in His presence and in love that never fades, even when memories do.

If you need an understanding friend, please feel free to reach out here. I may not have all the answers, but I can listen, pray for you, and walk alongside you in spirit. You are not alone. 💙