Saying goodbye to someone you love is an excruciating experience. Whether we’re letting go because of a shattered relationship, physical relocation, death, or another reason, these losses come with deep grief.
It’s important to let ourselves grieve when we lose loved ones.
Some people quickly bury their difficult emotions and move on. Others get stuck in despair and depression, and others numb themselves or get busy with work and ignore the difficult emotions.
Our emotions are God-given, and God wants to help us grieve when we lose loved ones. He invites us to bring our emotions to him, process our feelings in his presence, and let his love heal our hearts.
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Bible Verses About Letting Go of Someone You Love
The Bible is filled with examples of people who grieved their losses with God. The Psalms include many laments about shattered relationships, death, and other losses.
God wants to use his Word to heal our hearts. He wants his Word to become the foundation on which we stand when our hearts are broken.
Let’s explore 20 Bible verses about letting go of someone you love.
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1, ESV
God invites us to trust him, by faith, to carry us through trying times. This verse reminds us that faith includes putting our trust in God when life is difficult.
By faith, when we lose loved ones, we trust in God to carry us through our grief and give us hope.
Hebrews 6:19
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” Hebrews 6:19
After the loss of a loved one, it’s tempting to hurry through the valley of grief and fix our hope on the day when our hearts are no longer broken. Instead of running through our pain and putting our hope in escaping our sadness, Jesus invites us to put our hope in his presence with us—in the middle of our sadness.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1
The loss of a loved one might leave you feeling empty inside. You might feel alone and afraid as you adjust to a “new normal.”
During this time, remind yourself that Jesus is with you. He is your light and salvation, and he will never leave your side. He will help you work through your difficult emotions.
Psalm 62:1
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62:1
We find salvation from our sins by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. However, Jesus wants to continue to deliver us throughout our lives.
When you feel distraught and hopeless, ask Jesus to deliver you from despair. His resurrection power is available to you right now.
Psalm 62:2
“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2
When you’re letting go of someone you love, you might feel greatly shaken. It’s not wrong or sinful to feel deep emotional pain. Jesus was so distraught that his sweat poured from his body like blood before he went to the cross.
Remind yourself that Jesus is your rock, salvation, and fortress. He is your safe place. Run to him and let him strengthen you.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Some people leave our lives because of the natural change of seasons. Children grow up and move away. Friends find new jobs. Elderly loved ones pass away.
Ask God to help you find peace as you settle into your new season. He wants to be your source of comfort and hope.
Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10
Finding your strength in God begins when you admit that you feel weak. God wants to make his power known in your weakness. Ask him to reveal his power as you navigate this loss, and then watch for him to reveal himself as your source of strength.
Psalm 37:23
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23
Do you feel uncertain about what to do next or how to move forward? This is normal in times of loss and grief.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep reading your Bible daily and listening to worship music—especially when you don’t feel like it. Jesus will help you move forward and will show you what to do next.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
God’s promise to the people of Israel holds true for us today. Even when life looks hopeless and grim, God has good plans for us.
God has plans to give you a future and hope. Keep clinging to him.
Psalm 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
God wants to help you deal with this loss. Continue to turn to him. Remember that he is the source of all healing and wholeness, and he is waiting to restore you.
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21
Were you hoping and planning for a future with your loved one? Grieving the future you hoped for can be the hardest part of the loss.
Today, allow God to gently remind you that he has a purpose for your life. This loss will not derail his purpose for you.
2 Corinthians 13:14
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
God imparts his grace when he works in our lives to accomplish what we cannot do in our human strength. In his grace, God wants to lift you up and heal your heart.
You might be feeling tempted to turn away from God in anger for allowing this loss. Sadly, when you turn away from God, you are also turning away from the only source of healing. P
our out your emotions (even your anger) to the Lord in lament, but do your best to keep a soft heart.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16
God wants to be your source of peace. Turn to him, and he can fill you with the peace that passes understanding as you navigate this loss. He is with you and wants to carry you through the darkest days.
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3
If you have lost a loved one due to death, hold onto hope. For those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, heavenly homes await us when our lives on earth end.
Have hope that your loved one is dancing in the presence of the Lord, and cling to the hope that you will be reunited one day.
Psalm 121:5
“The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.” Psalm 121:5
God has not abandoned you in this difficult time. Continue to pour out your emotions in his presence. Tell him everything you’re feeling.
God wants to speak into your pain. After pouring out your heart each day, sit in silence, and let God speak to your heart. You might be surprised by what he reveals.
John 11:35
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35
Do you wonder what Jesus is doing while your heart is broken? When Jesus’ friends mourned the death of their friend Lazarus, Jesus wept with them.
We serve a compassionate and loving God. He has deep emotions, and he weeps with us when we mourn.
Romans 15:13
“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
Times of loss often feel hopeless. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord wants to give you hope today. He is with you, and he is working to heal your broken heart.
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Find hope in the promise that the Lord is with you. He is with you as you adjust to life without your loved one. He will not leave your side or abandon you.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
One day, God will use this difficult time to enable you to comfort someone else with the same comfort you received from God. Let God comfort you. He wants to comfort you through loving friends, his Word, and by holding you in his arms.
Close your eyes and imagine leaning into the warmth of his embrace. He has you, and he will not let go.
James 1:4
“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4
Difficult times build character. When you emerge to the other side of the pain you are feeling now, the Lord will use this loss to help you become more mature and complete.
The most mature believers have walked through deep waters of loss. Stay close to God, and he will use this time for his glory.
If studying the Bible better is on your list of things to do this year, be sure to visit our Bible Study Resources page where you’ll find everything you need to make Bible study a regular part of your daily routine.
Navigating loss is never easy. It can be helpful to allow yourself a certain amount of time each day to grieve. Use this time to cry, pour out your emotions to God, write in a journal, revisit memories, and pray.
Also, consider adding worship music to this time. Some of the most powerful worship you will ever experience will be the kind of worship that gives honor to God when your heart is broken.
God is with you. He wants to help you and heal you. He loves you more than you can imagine, and he wants you to know that there is hope on the other side of this loss.
