If you’ve ever stood at the grave of a loved one, signed the papers crushing your dream of a happily ever after, or faced rejection from someone you love, these Bible verses about heartbreak are for you.
From grief to rejection, heartbreak comes in all forms. When I think about the deep pain of loss or my struggle to rise above the hurtful words of a loved one, I’m forced to face the reality that God gave us all of the emotions associated with a broken heart.
He also gave us faith, and hope, and joy.
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What Does the Bible Say About Heartbreak
When searching the scriptures for hope in the midst of a heartbreak season, we can turn to the healer of broken hearts, Jesus Christ, because he has known the multitude of our hurt.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.4 Surely he took up our pain
Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
What does the Bible say about heartbreak?
The Bible clearly let’s us know that, in addition to the good and happy times, we WILL experience heartbreak and sorrow.
Solomon says:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 NIV
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
We will go through seasons of heartbreak and pain, but praise God, we are not alone. Christ is right beside us to heal our broken hearts and bring us peace and joy. We can go to him because he understands pain and suffering.
In this world you will have trouble. We will have pain. We will have heartbreak. But take heart because Jesus has overcome the world! (John 16:33)
Why Does God Allow Heartbreak?
You might be asking yourself – If God is such a loving God, why does He allow heartbreak?
First, we must remember that we live in a fallen, sinful world. People are murdered, we sin and hurt the ones we love, children are violated. Heartbreak is the result of the fall.
BUT God can use your heartbreak for a purpose! Oswald Chambers says it rather bluntly.
“The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His Redemption. Why shouldn’t we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways, God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God’s purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so-called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says — “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.”
That last sentence is my favorite. “God allows heartache to draw us closer to Him and fulfill His purpose”.
Bible Verses for a Broken Heart
I do not know that I’ve been very encouraging so far. I’ve pretty much told you to expect and accept heartbreak and suffering. But along with telling us to expect it, the Bible also gives us PLENTY to comfort us through this difficult season.
So, what is a good Bible verse for a broken heart? Draw your comfort from God’s word.
When a romantic relationship ends, it is so easy to think that all is lost because you may have had your entire future planned around that relationship.
When you’ve been rejected or hurt by someone else, when your dreams have been broken and your hope for restoration is gone, it is easy to ask “what now?”.
The Bible is full of scripture to heal a broken heart and let us know that our future is in His hands (and not the former relationship)!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God still has plans for you! He’s still working in your life through your broken heart. Jeremiah 29:11 is often seen by itself, but I like the next two verses as well.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (verses 12-13)
Isaiah 41:10
God is still here for you, waiting for you to pour your hurt out before Him. He promises to be there! He also promises to never leave us.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
1 Peter 2:23-24
One last word on broken hearts in relationships. Jesus has given us a beautiful example.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:23-24)
God had a purpose for Jesus’s sufferings- to heal us! He has a purpose for your sufferings as well. Leave them in His hands.
Psalm 34:18
The Psalms are always a good place to look for just about anything! David experienced fear, heartache, conviction, betrayal, and rejection and is openly expressive about it. His faith encourages us and inspires us as He praises God through all of his trials.
When your heart is hurting, you can always find peace and healing from the Bible!
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NIV
Psalm 73:26
God is close to you, He hears you, He has not forsaken you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
Do you feel as if your heart is failing? I know exactly how David felt here, but he doesn’t end the verse that way. He praised God and through faith acknowledges that there is one bigger than himself.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
God will sustain you. When you are convinced you cannot go on, you can. When everything (and everyone) is against you, God is still for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
(Romans 12:12)
Why can we come to the Lord with our heartbreak? Because He cares for us. Plain and simple. Our hope rests in Him alone.
Related: Lord Heal My Hurts
I think we’ve all been in a season in which we are seeking Bible verses for emotional healing. The Bible is full of stories of physical healing, but God knows we are so much more than skin and bones.
Luke 4:18
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18 NKJV)
What does healing the broken-hearted look like? I don’t think it means God reaches down and takes our pain away, but he gives us the strength to go on and in time brings us peace, joy, and restoration.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)
I feel as if many of these verses require an action on our part. Specifically, coming to Him and giving Him our broken heart. (Related: Giving it All to God)
Luke 11:28-30
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.” (Luke 11:28-30)
Revelation 21:4
One last Bible verse about heartbreak. I saved this one for the end as a reminder that suffering is proof that this world is not our home. There are no tears in heaven, not heartbreak or rejection.
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)
Always remember that heartbreak is something we will all experience during our life here on Earth. But God tells us that the heartbreak season is just that – a season. It will end and a new season of happiness will eventually come.
No matter what you are going through, God hears you and can heal your broken heart!
