Sorrow is an inevitable part of the human experience. Each person experiences it in varying degrees and at different points in their lives. Thus, the Bible, being a book of profound wisdom and timeless guidance, provides a distinct perspective on sorrow. This article aims to uncover what the Bible conveys about sorrow.
What Does the Bible Convey about Sorrow?
The Bible defines sorrow as an intense feeling of distress, sadness, and grief precipitated by loss, disappointment, or misfortune. The Bible views sorrow not just as an emotional response but also as a condition that bears the potential for spiritual growth, maturity, and understanding. Sorrow, according to the Bible, brings a profound sense of humility, reliance on God, compassion towards others, and the experience of authentic joy and comfort that comes with healing.
Why Does the Bible Address Sorrow?
The Bible addresses sorrow to acknowledge that it is a natural response to tragedy and hardship. It reassures believers that God understands their feelings of sorrow and promises comfort in their times of despair. Speaking about sorrow demonstrates the Bible’s real-world relevance and its empathy towards the realities faced by humanity. It serves as an affirmation of God’s promise to walk with mankind through the thickness of sorrow and deliver them to a place of peace, hope, and relief.
Where Does the Bible Talk about Sorrow?
The Bible echoes thoughts about sorrow throughout various books including the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Matthew, John, and 2 Corinthians, among others. These books demonstrate that sorrow is a common theme woven into the fabric of life, both in biblical times and today. They reveal that individuals from various walks of life, including prophets, kings, and disciples, experienced periods of deep sorrow. This universality serves to remind us that sorrow is not an indication of spiritual deficiency or lack of faith; instead, it is part and parcel of the human condition.
Who Offers Comfort in Times of Sorrow?
According to the Bible, God is often depicted as a source of comfort and solace during times of sorrow. The Bible encourages those in sorrow to lean on God for strength, to seek His counsel, and to trust in His goodness. It accentuates that God is near to those who are broken-hearted and offers comfort in their distress. The narrative also commends the role of the church and the Christian community in providing comfort and emotional support to alleviate the sorrow of others by sharing burdens and extending love and kindness.
When Does the Bible Express Sorrow Turning into Joy?
Throughout the Bible, there are instances where it conveys that sorrow may give way to joy and peace. The Bible suggests that sorrow, if endured with faith and patience, can be transformative and can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of joy. It highlights that sorrow may indeed be painful and challenging in the moment, but it does not last forever, and joy awaits on the other side. The Bible underscores God’s promise to turn mourning into dancing, to replace sackcloth with joy, and to bring about a time of rejoicing after a period of sorrow.
Below is the full list of bible verses on sorrow (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Sorrow
Revelation 21:4
“4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Related Themes: Hope Suffering Frustration Tears Repentance
John 16:33
“33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Related Themes: Frustration Suffering Peace Homelessness Bitterness
Psalm 30:5
“5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Related Themes: Joy Patience Depression Favor Tears
Romans 8:18
“18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Related Themes: Suffering Hope Business Creativity Lust
2 Corinthians 7:10
“10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Related Themes: Repentance Regret Tears Repentance Guilt
Matthew 5:4
“4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
1 Peter 5:7
“7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Frustration Depression Worry Complaining
Isaiah 35:10
“10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Related Themes: Suffering Loneliness Comfort Suffering
Proverbs 10:22
“22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Prosperity Business Abundance
Psalm 34:18
“18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Related Themes: Frustration Sadness Heart Depression Hope
James 4:7
“7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Related Themes: Lust Bitterness Addiction Satan Surrender
1 Samuel 1:15
“15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”
Ecclesiastes 7:3
“3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”
Related Themes: Frustration Arguing Depression
1 John 4:18
“18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Related Themes: Love Fear New Beginnings Trust Self Confidence
Psalm 147:3
“3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Healing Greatness Health Abuse
John 16:22
“22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”
Psalm 73:26
“26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Psalm 13:2-3
“2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;”
Related Themes: Eyes Hopelessness Resentment
Luke 19:10
“10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Related Themes: Children Life Identity Omnipotence Glorification
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Peter 3:18
“18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
Psalm 119:50
“50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”
Related Themes: Suffering Healing Comfort Homelessness Mourning
1 John 1:9
“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Related Themes: Repentance Forgiveness Bitterness Lust Attitude
Acts 3:19-21
“19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Related Themes: Repentance Restoration New Beginnings Respecting Your Parents Forgiveness
1 Corinthians 15:22
“22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Related Themes: Life Murder Death Restoration
Psalm 23:4
“4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Gold Persecution Life Nervousness
Galatians 6:1
“1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Related Themes: Criticism Trespassing Reaping Pride Judging Others
