Bible Verses for a Broken Heart

The first verse to hold onto.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Lord, my heart is broken. You promised to be close to the brokenhearted, so be close to me. Rescue my crushed spirit. I can’t find the words, so hear the sighs. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What God does with a broken heart.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Father, You don’t despise a broken heart. You welcome it. I bring You mine, all of it. Make something of what is shattered. Give me a heart that can still love, still hope, and still trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Heartbreak is in the Bible too.

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book? Psalm 56:8

In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears. Psalm 18:6

God, heartbreak is real, and You know it. You saw the people in the Psalms cry out, and You answered. Hear me too. Heal the pain slowly. Don’t let me hurry it, and don’t let me hide it. Be here with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

He binds up the wounds.

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance; the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Lord, You heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. Heal mine. Take the sharp edges off the memories. Mend what feels beyond repair. Do it in Your time, and stay with me while You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Just one, if one is all you can read.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

Lord, if I can only hold one verse today, let it be that You are near. That’s all I need to know. Be near, and let that be enough for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For the first days.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh. Psalm 27:13-14

Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7

God, I’m heartbroken, and I’m not okay. I’m not asking You to fix it fast. I’m asking You to stay. Let the people around me love me well. Carry me through the first days, and the long ones after. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When the ache doesn’t go away.

Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. Psalm 119:76

My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28

Lord, the ache won’t go away. Some days it’s quieter, and some days it floods back. Be there for both. Give me strength to keep going, and let hope come back one small piece at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The promise in four words.

Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance; the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves. Psalm 126:5-6

God, You heal the brokenhearted. I’m holding You to that. Heal me, the way You’ve healed others. Turn my mourning into joy in Your time. Until then, hold me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For a woman who is hurting.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. Isaiah 40:11

The Lord, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. Zephaniah 3:17

Father, I’m a woman with a broken heart, and You see me. Don’t let me believe I’m alone, or that I’m less. Hold me the way a shepherd holds a lamb. Give me rest, and in time, joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

You are not alone in this.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for the Lord your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Lord, You are with the brokenhearted. I believe it, even when I can’t feel it. Stay close. Make me notice Your presence in the quiet. Let me know I’m not alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

He keeps every tear.

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book? Psalm 56:8

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Father, You keep my tears in Your bottle. You count each one. Thank You that none of it is wasted. One day You will wipe every tear away. Until then, hold me while I cry. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What the Bible says about a broken heart: that God sees it, and is close.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book? Psalm 56:8

Lord, what does Your word say to someone heartbroken? That You are close, that You heal, and that You keep every tear. Let me believe it more than I believe the pain. Hold me while I learn it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Psalms were written by people with broken hearts.

From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2

For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. Psalm 22:24

God, the psalmists cried the way I’m crying. Thank You that You let them say it all, and that You answered. Let their words be mine when I have none. Answer me the way You answered them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. Isaiah 40:11

Jesus, You came to bind up the brokenhearted. I’m one of them. Come and do what You came to do. Heal what hurts, and comfort me like only You can. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For a man who isn’t sure he’s allowed to hurt.

My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7

Father, I’m a man with a broken heart, and I don’t know where to put it. Tell me it’s okay to feel this. Be my strength when I’m not strong. Heal me, and let me find someone to talk to. In Jesus’ name, amen.

After a breakup, a divorce, or a betrayal.

For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Lord, a relationship ended, and it hurts. Help me grieve it honestly, and not rush to fill the space. Show me my worth in You. Bring healing in time, and good people in time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

It’s okay to cry. The Bible says so.

Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves. Psalm 126:5-6

You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book? Psalm 56:8

God, I’ve been crying, and I’m not ashamed. You cry with Your people. You count every tear. Let this crying be part of the healing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The heart can heal, slowly.

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance; the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Lord, heal my heart. Do it slowly if You must, but do it thoroughly. Take out the splinters. Restore what is tender. Let me love again, wisely and freely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When the ache comes in waves.

Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. Psalm 119:76

In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears. Psalm 18:6

Father, the ache comes in waves. When it floods in, don’t let me drown. Be the rock under my feet. Comfort me by Your word, and by Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When your spirit is crushed, not just your mood.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

Lord, my spirit is crushed. You save the crushed in spirit. Lift me. Breathe life back into me. Let me feel Your nearness before anything else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A short verse for a heavy day.

Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance; the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

God, my heart is sad today. I’m not asking You to make it go away. I’m asking You to be with me in it. Turn my mourning into dancing, in time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For when it simply hurts.

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

Father, my heart hurts. Hold me. Heal what I can’t reach. Show me that You see, and that You care. Let me not hurt alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The promise, plainly.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

Lord, You are near to the brokenhearted. I’m holding You to that, because I need it to be true. Be near in the night, in the morning, and in the middle of the day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

After losing someone.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Lord, I lost someone, and my heart is broken. Comfort me. Remind me that death is not the end, and that You hold them. Heal me, and help me remember them gladly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you could only read three.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 34:18

He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Lord, if I read only three verses today, let them be these: that You are near, that You heal, and that You keep my tears. Let those three be enough for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before the morning’s first hurt.

Lord, I woke with the same ache. Carry me through this day. Give me one reason to get up, and one small thing to be thankful for. Be gentle with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.