21 Bible Verses About Heartbreak: Scripture for a Hurting Heart

There’s a unique and heavy pain that comes with a broken heart. It’s more than just sadness; it’s a feeling that can settle deep in your chest, making it hard to breathe. I know how it feels; one moment you’re fine, and the next, a song on the radio or a familiar scent brings a wave of grief so powerful it takes your breath away. That feeling of emptiness can be all too real, can’t it?

Whether you are walking this path yourself or looking for Christian encouragement for a friend with a broken heart, we pray these words bring comfort. This pain knows no bounds, and these scriptures for a broken hearted woman or man bring the same universal hope. If you’re asking, “what does the bible say about a broken heart?”, this isn’t a list meant to rush your healing. Instead, think of this as a quiet invitation for us to find God’s presence and comfort right in the middle of the pain.

Your Spiritual First-Aid Kit: Verses for Right Now

When the pain is too raw and your thoughts are too scattered to read much, hold onto these truths. These verses are a spiritual first-aid kit, a direct answer to the question, what does God say about a broken heart right now?

1. Psalm 34:18 (NIV): "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

This is the most important promise to hold onto. He isn’t disappointed in you or distant from you. He draws near. He is not afraid of your broken pieces.

2. Psalm 147:3 (NIV): "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Think of the tenderness in these words. He isn’t a distant doctor; He is a gentle healer who personally “binds up” your specific wounds with intimate care.

3. Matthew 11:28 (NIV): "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

This is a personal invitation from Jesus, with no conditions. You don’t have to be strong or have it all together. The only requirement is to come as you are to receive His rest.

Scripture for When the Loneliness Feels Overwhelming

One of the deepest pains of heartbreak is profound loneliness. These bible verses for loneliness address that specific ache.

4. Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV): "It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

This promise is twofold. He is not just with you now, but He also “goes before you” into the tomorrows you might be afraid to face.

5. Joshua 1:9 (NIV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Your feelings of fear are real, but God’s presence is an even greater reality and the very source of the strength and courage He invites you to have.

6. Hebrews 13:5 (NLT): "For God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.'"

This is a direct quote from God – a personal, unbreakable vow that no matter how abandoned you may feel by people, He will remain.

7. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): "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."

This isn’t a passive promise; it’s an active one. Notice the verbs: He will strengthen, help, and uphold. This is the grip of a loving Father holding you steady.

In the quiet moments, how can remembering He is with you bring even a small bit of peace?

Permission to Be Honest: Verses for When It Just Hurts

It’s okay to feel everything you’re feeling. If you’re wondering what the bible says about sadness, know that it’s an emotion seen throughout scripture. God is big enough to handle your most unfiltered feelings and honest questions. Learning to lean on Him is a process, and it’s okay to find it difficult. If you’re struggling in this area, you might find comfort in these verses about trusting God when it feels hard.

8. Psalm 62:8 (NIV): "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

I want you to know this is permission for the messy, raw, tear-filled cries. He doesn’t just tolerate them; He invites them.

9. Psalm 55:12-14, 22 (NIV): "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers... Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

This scripture about betrayal acknowledges the unique pain from being hurt by someone close. David understood this, naming the pain of sweet fellowship now broken. Then, he gives the divine instruction for that specific pain: Cast your cares on the Lord, because He is the one who will sustain you when a close friend will not.

10. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV): "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

The reason you can give Him your anxieties is simple and profound: because He cares for you. It’s not a burden to Him; it’s an expression of your trust in His care.

11. Psalm 73:26 (NIV): "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This verse gives you permission to admit, “I can’t do this. My heart is failing”. It acknowledges our human limits and immediately points to His limitless strength.

12. Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV): "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

In the middle of deep sorrow, the writer makes a choice to call to mind what he knows to be true. Even when everything feels dark, His faithfulness is new every single morning.

Bible Verses for Strength When You Feel Weak

There will be days when you feel you simply don’t have the strength to face the day. This scripture for strength during difficult times doesn’t demand you be strong on your own; it promises His strength is available.

13. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV): "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Your strength doesn’t come from your own reserves; it is a gift from Him. The verse reminds us that everyone’s strength fails, but hope in the Lord is the key that unlocks a renewed power that endures.

14. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

This is a perspective-shifting truth. Your weakness is not a liability; it is the very place where Christ’s power can be most powerfully displayed. Paul’s response shows us it’s okay to be weak, because it’s an opportunity to experience His strength.

15. Philippians 4:13 (NIV): "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

This isn’t about being able to achieve anything you want. It’s a promise that you can endure this specific hardship – this heartbreak – through Him who provides the strength. Holding onto this truth is an act of faith over fear.

16. Exodus 14:14 (NIV): "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

On the days you feel too weak to fight, remember this. Some battles are not yours to fight. In these moments, you need only to be still and let God be your defender.

Scriptures on Healing, Forgiveness, and Letting Go

I’ve learned in my own journey that healing is not a straight line. As you look for bible verses about moving on from the past, be gentle with yourself. This process includes forgiveness and letting go, which takes time. It’s a journey that requires us to lean on His promises day after day, especially when we feel like we can’t continue. If you need a reminder of His call to persevere, these bible verses about not giving up can be a great encouragement.

17. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV): "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

This is a gentle invitation to lift your eyes from what is behind and dare to look for the “new thing” God is doing. The powerful imagery shows He creates paths and refreshment where it seems impossible.

18. Colossians 3:13 (NIV): "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Forgiveness is incredibly hard, and this verse doesn’t minimize that. It centers our reason for forgiving in the greatest act of forgiveness we’ve ever received. It’s a process, but it’s the path to freedom.

19. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

This heartbreak is part of your story, but it does not define your identity. In Christ, your identity is “new creation”.

20. Romans 8:28 (NIV): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This verse can be hard to read in pain. It doesn’t mean the heartbreak itself was good. It means God is such a powerful Redeemer that He can take even the most painful pieces and weave them into something good.

21. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV): "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Paul’s humility here is comforting – even he hadn’t “arrived”. Forgetting here doesn’t mean erasing the memory, but releasing its power by actively “straining” and “pressing on” toward the beautiful future God has planned.

Conclusion: Your Heart Is Safe in His Hands

Walking through heartbreak is one of the most difficult journeys. But you are not walking it alone. The golden thread woven through these scriptures on healing is this: God is close, He is faithful, and your heart is held safely in His hands.

Living in this truth is a beautiful way to wear your faith and, eventually, share your hope. For more encouragement, you can explore our complete guide to Bible verses for women, or our broader collection of scriptures for everyday life.

How does God heal a broken heart?

He does it by meeting us where we are. He draws close (Ps. 34:18), lends us His strength when we are weak (2 Cor. 12:9), listens to our honest cries (Ps. 62:8), and gently guides us toward a new future we can’t yet see (Is. 43:19). You can use these verses as a daily devotional for healing, focusing on one truth each day. He sees your tears, He hears your cries, and He promises to guide you toward hope.

A Simple Practice for Today

Reading all of this can feel like a lot. Don’t feel pressured. Just choose one verse that whispered to your heart. Write it on a sticky note and place it where you’ll see it. If you don’t know what to pray, you can simply say:

"Lord, my heart is broken. Please be close to me. Help me hold onto this one truth today. Amen."

Let that one promise be your anchor. Let it be the one truth that holds you steady until tomorrow morning, when His mercies will be new again.

We invite you to share in the comments which of these verses is a comfort to you today. Let’s be a community that encourages one another on the journey.