Grief hits hard in the mornings. And for some, grief hits hardest in the morning.
I remember waking happy for one fraction of a second before reality came crashing in with its crushing weight.
Oh, yeah, I’d think. This is my life now. And with that realization came the engulfing pain of loss, the loneliness, the despair that life would never feel good again.
When you’re navigating deep loss of any kind, it takes enormous courage just to swing your feet to the floor and begin the day.
Why is Morning Grief So Hard?
Morning grief is difficult for several reasons.
- First, is what I described above — you’re moving from the relief that sleep brings to the harsh reality that waking brings. Even if your sleep isn’t ideal because of grief, it does provide a respite from the grueling emotions and overwhelm during the day.
- It can feel like Groundhog Day all over again. Each morning brings renewed realization that life is forever different. It’s one more day you didn’t sign up for, where you’ll need to push through hard things, new challenges and painful emotions.
- This Groundhog Day effect can trigger anxiety in the morning–either fear of all the unknown you’re facing or despair that you’ll ever feel happy again. In the darkness of grief, it’s hard to believe you’ll ever wake up excited about what the day holds. (You will. While you can’t rush grief, the hard work of processing grief with hope of God’s promises will help you move forward.)
- Each morning also marks one more day further away from the last day you spent with your beloved. Much as you want to move through this brutal grief, you don’t want to move into days and chapters and seasons of life without your person. But here you are, facing a day that will involve new experiences and new memories without your beloved.
- Morning grief can also be difficult if you weren’t a morning person to begin with. If you’re not the type that jumped out of bed in the morning to greet the day, having to greet a day with grief makes mornings even harder.
So, what can help when morning grief is particularly hard? Scripture helps us to grieve with hope and brings deep comfort. As I studied scripture, I saw that we aren’t alone in needing God’s help in the morning. In fact, God has a lot to say about his steadfast love and mercy over our mornings!
I’ve curated 15 scriptures to help when morning grief hits hard. Memorizing one or two verses can help reset your mind for the day. I often wake and begin reciting Psalm 139, pulling the covers up and stealing a few more minutes before I meet the day. It’s an anchor and reminder that God sees us, knows us and has ordained each day for us. You could also write these verses on cards to keep on your nightstand or use them as journal prompts each morning.
15 Bible Verses to Help Morning Grief
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3, NIV)
Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5, NKJV)
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 59:16, NIV)
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65:8, NIV)
But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psalm 88:13, NIV)
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14, NIV)
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, (Psalm 92:1-2, NLT)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8, NIV)
LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. (Isaiah 33:2, NIV)
The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. (Zephaniah 3:5, NIV)
The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. (Isaiah 50:4, NIV)
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT)
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand– when I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:17-18, NIV)
I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. (Psalm 119:147, NLT)
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24, NLT)
Angeline Duran says
Thank you for sharing. I was truly encouraged.
Andi says
Thank you for this. I can identify with so much of what you say about morning grief. Deep grief also comes to many who are abandoned as I and my children were as we lose a whole way of life we knew. I know what it feels like to wake in the morning and that flash of a second and the reality hits you all over again
. It has been 10 years of struggle and much loneliness (but also Gods provision and faithfulness), and the morning is so hard and the anxiety and sadness can hit so quickly when I open my eyes. I will copy each of these verses and meditate on them. I’ve also found help in setting my alarm to a praise song so I awake to a quiet moment with the Lord. God bless you and thank you for what you share.