I lost my mother while my husband and I were living in Hong Kong. She lived in Texas, eight thousand miles away. Navigating her illness and death from that distance meant many hours spent in airports and on airplanes. I had some of the following resources, and wish I’d had the others. The grief journey challenges even the faint of heart. I pray these suggestions will nourish your soul as you wend your way over this much-traveled road.

Bible Verses to Comfort You in Your Grief Journey

I needed God’s comfort to help me through my grief journey. His Word is a treasure trove and the avenue he often uses to speak to me. Sometimes the Bible voiced my feelings. Other times, God used Scripture to assure me of his loving presence.

• I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.(Lamentations 3:20-23 NLT)
• The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 ESV)
• My body and my heart may grow weak. God, you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need. (Psalm 73:26 NIRV)
• Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 CSB)

Books from Fellow Mourners

Despite having walked through grief with others, I found the mourning process bewildering. So, reading how other people endured and what they learned gave me hope that my feelings were normal, and I, too, could survive.

• Soul Care When You’re Grieving by Edie Melson: Grief is difficult. We all experience it—and we experience it differently. But what if you could break down some of the barriers created by grief? What if you could latch on to ways to engage again with the world around you?
• Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing through Grief by John R. Claypool: A collection of sermons from the heart of an exceptional preacher delivered during the terminal illness and following the death of his daughter, Laura Lou.
• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis: Written with love, humility, and faith, this brief but poignant volume was first published under a pseudonym, as it was considered too raw. Written moment-to-moment as Lewis processed the loss of his wife to cancer, this is more than a mere book on grief, but a visceral hand outstretched in the darkness, a reluctant guide through the “mad midnight moments” of mourning and loss.
• A Griever’s Guide to Life: Reshaping your story of grief and God by John McNeely Roberts: Against the backdrop of the sudden loss of his daughter, author John Roberts invites you to walk with him on this grief journey as you work through the complicated emotions that make this journey so difficult. Using both John’s story and the Bible as guides, you will learn to reassess and reshape your story of pain, grief, and God. 

Articles to Answer Questions About the Healing Process

Sometimes, books required more concentration than I possessed. Articles allowed me to find short answers to pressing questions during my grief journey.

• Denison Forum: Denison Forum addresses current issues from a biblical perspective. Their website offers articles, books, and podcasts. You can find 305 articles on grief.
• “The Waves of Grief Will Give Way” by Sarah Walton: Grief and tears are not the signs of weak faith, but normal and healthy responses to the brokenness of this world. It’s natural to grieve the losses and pain we experience in this life. Denying ourselves the freedom to grieve not only harms us but also denies us the opportunity to experience the sweetness of Christ’s presence in the bitterness of our pain.
• “Grief Is Not an Enemy of Faith” by Trevin Wax: If you feel burdened by sorrow and grief about the loss of a loved one, and if you feel like beating yourself up because the tears haven’t dried yet and the pain hasn’t subsided, please free yourself from unbiblical, unrealistic expectations.
• “The Stages of Grief as a Christian: Finding Healing and Faith” by Jonathan Fisher. Grief is a universal experience that touches every person at some point in their life. As Christians, processing grief involves not only managing the emotional turmoil that accompanies loss but also leaning on faith for strength and comfort, and understanding the stages of grief through a Christian lens can provide a framework for healing, offering both spiritual guidance and practical support.

Videos To Encourage You

Grief can produce brain fog. At times, I couldn’t focus  enough to read anything. The following video options weren’t available when my mother died, but I wish they had been. Hearing from brothers and sisters in Christ who know the struggles bereavement brings can encourage our souls.

• Find Healing in the Midst of Your Pain with Priscilla Shirer and Tony Evans: Priscilla Shirer sits down with Tony Evans and their family to discuss their process of navigating through their grief after the passing of Lois Evans, and how the Holy Spirit can bring healing to your heart after a tragic loss.
• The Gift of Grief with Lisa Harper: Some of us have believed the lie that “sad is bad,” and we’ve only brought our positivity to God. But when we bring our disappointment to Him, we learn that difficult seasons can become the cornerstone of our faith. Lisa Harper encourages us that our compassionate God is near in “The Gift of Grief.”
• There’s HOPE After Loss – God Has a Plan for Your Grief with Rick Warren: Ever wondered how to find hope after loss? Pastor Rick Warren explains that while life is imperfect, Jesus’ beatitude from Matthew 5:4 teaches us that “God blesses those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Discover how God’s plan for your grief can lead to healing and growth. How can embracing grief offer comfort in a broken world? Let’s explore this together and find hope in the midst of sorrow.
• Jesus And The Grieving Heart with Greg Laurie: Losing a loved one comes with grief, questions, longing… it can be overwhelming. But Jesus is with us through it all. Pastor Greg Laurie shares the powerful story of Jesus bringing comfort to Mary and Martha after the loss of Lazarus.

Grief’s Common Cause

Grief has many faces but one cause—loss. The pain can devastate us, leaving us with questions and doubts. Despite our inability to sense God’s presence at times, we have his promise that he never leaves us. He also gives us resources to encourage and support us our grief journey. I’ve listed some above, but he also gives us Christian brothers and sisters who will walk with us through the dark valley. As Christians, we have a dual resurrection hope in Jesus—life after death for the one who died and life after loss for those who remain. We can lean into his grace and strength.

You may find my previous post, “20 Practical Tips for Supporting Someone Who’s Grieving,” helpful.

Supportive Resources to Help You Navigate Your Grief Journey by @NancyLucenay on Beyond the Front Door #Grief #Loss  Share on X

What additional resources can you suggest based on what has helped you or someone you know? I’d love to hear them. Please share them below in the Comments box at the bottom of the page.