I find funerals to be quite beautiful, as they celebrate the achievements of a life well lived and send well wishes for a homecoming in Heaven. As beautiful and special as this celebration of life can be, we as humans still mourn losing a loved one and grieve over the times forthcoming without them on earth. Everyone mourns differently, and there is no correct way to do it. As I've dealt with the loss of my grandfather the past two weeks, I've found particular comfort in this set of Scripture verses.
For the Deceased:
1. Romans 14:8 "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."
2. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
3. John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
4. Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
5. Psalm 34:22 "The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned."
6. 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
7. Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth."
For Those Who Mourn:
8. Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
9. 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."
10. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
11. Revelation 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.'"
12. Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
13. 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your worries on Him, because He cares for you."
For Finding Comfort in God:
14. Isaiah 41:10 "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.
15. Job 19:25 "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God."
16. Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
17. Psalm 61:1-2 "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
For Feeling Safe in God's Arms:
18. Psalm 23:1-6 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
19. John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
20. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
21. Psalm 48:14 "For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end."
