10 Bible Verses That Show It’s Okay to Be Sad: Finding Comfort in Your Emotions

You have likely many times heard the statement that Christians should always be joyful, or that being sad is a sin. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letters to the Philippians and the Thessalonians:

Always be joyful. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16, NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! – Philippians 4:4, NLT

The book of James also instructs us to be content in any difficulty:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. – James 1:2, NLT

Yet, an inner conflict arises, causing feelings of guilt and the sense that something is wrong when you feel sad. Is it truly a sin to cry?

10 Bible Verses About Being Sad

Let’s review ten Bible verses that show it’s okay to be sad. These Scriptures validate that crying and feeling down are natural human emotions.

Jesus wept. – John 11:35, NASB

This is the shortest verse in the Bible. Jesus was both God and man. He never sinned; He was the blameless Lamb of God who was slain for our sins. Jesus cried when He arrived at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, who had died.

Even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He wept because He saw the mourning of those around Him and was moved by their sorrow. This shows Jesus’ deep compassion and empathy for human suffering. If Jesus, who was spotless from any infirmity, wept, then it is okay for us humans to cry, and crying is not a sin.

A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. – Ecclesiastes 3:4, NASB

King Solomon, the son of David and the third king of Israel, was the richest man in human history and the wisest of all men (except for Jesus) – past, present, and future. Solomon asked God for the gift of wisdom, and in response, God granted him not only unmatched wisdom but also wealth, honor, and a long life, surpassing all others.

This wise man, one of the greatest to ever live, states that sadness and grieving are part of life, and everyone goes through such times. This verse supports the idea that it is okay to feel sad at times during our journey on earth, and it is important to allow ourselves to experience those emotions and let them run their course.

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. – Psalm 56:8, NLT

When you are in pain and cry alone, you may feel incredibly lonely, thinking that nobody cares, that you don’t matter, and that you are surrounded by darkness. That’s what evil wants you to believe and feel; he is the liar and the deceitful one.

The truth is that God knows every single hurt you experience. As Scripture beautifully describes it, He collects every tear you shed, as a loving presence sits by your side, wiping each drop from your cheeks. You may not have a personal, supportive, and attentive person in your life, but you have God by your side. He always cares about you and knows all your physical, emotional, and spiritual aches.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. – Psalm 30:5, NLT

What a relief to know that every dark night gives way to the morning light, just as every agony eventually ends, replaced by peace and joy. The thought that even this situation, this hurt, will pass is incredibly comforting during the most difficult moments in life. But might make you wonder about chronic pain – physical, emotional, or spiritual torment that seems unending.

These chronic conditions can feel overwhelming and hopeless, but each new day brings the possibility of renewed strength and small steps toward relief. There is always hope, knowing that even these conditions are temporary, just as our time on earth is. Jesus is our hope, and He is the one who gives us the strength to endure any storm or drought in our lives.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. – Psalm 147:3, NLT

If anyone understands the pain of wounds and the misery of heartbreak, it is Jesus more than any. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, mocked, beaten, and ultimately crucified. His suffering culminated in His death on the cross, where He bore the weight of humanity’s sins. Your wounds are carried by His unconditional love and faithfulness.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. – Psalm 34:18, NLT

If you have felt loss or betrayal or any kind of hurt, you may have been brokenhearted and your spirit may have been or still is crushed to the level that it seems not possible to repair anymore. There is nothing and nobody on earth who can fill that void, only Jesus. Our precious Lord is close to you and He promises to rescue you, this deliverance may not be fulfilled in in this life.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4, NLT

Jesus is our comfort. He blesses those who grieve, which means that experiencing lamentation is a natural part of our lives, and the expression of despair is blessed by our Lord and Saviour who knows exactly what anguish means, and His everlasting desire to pour His love onto every child who calls for His help. There is a deep truth in the reality of many losses between birth and death on this earth. Jesus offers hope to everyone who is in sorrow.

Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:15, NLT

The Apostle Paul tells us to be in tune with others’ feelings. It is our responsibility not only to celebrate their joy but also to weep with those who are grieving. The importance lies not in following cultural patterns or the inner urge to fix problems and offer advice, but in sitting with our brother or sister, crying together, listening, and validating their pain. We are called to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” (James 1:19)

It takes awareness and diligent effort to focus on being quiet, listening, and speaking less when someone is hurting.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT

There is a purpose in each suffering, but almost all tragedies blind us from understanding their purpose. We are reassured that God comforts us throughout our pain. In 2 Corinthians, one meaning behind our suffering is that we can use our troubles to be more sensitive and helpful toward others who are neglected, abused, and hurt.

It is a big challenge for anyone to use their suffering to serve others who are going through the same journey or are in any other lack or grief. Step out of your four walls, even if you don’t feel like it, and expect something big to happen. Watch what the Holy Spirit will do through you and around you.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. – Revelation 21:4, NLT

The last book of the Bible, along with many others throughout the Old and New Testaments, promises that our suffering, pain, and grief are temporary, as we are sojourners in this life. In God’s kingdom, no evil can steal, kill, or destroy.

No one can hurt us anymore when we are in eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. So, it is okay to be sad and cry here on earth while we continue to have unwavering hope that these sorrows will one day be over. There will be joy and glory for the rest of eternity.

These ten Bible verses remind us that it’s natural to feel sad and offer comfort for our emotions. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are a Christian’s only hope and the reason they can endure all suffering, knowing that eternity with God will be their ultimate reward and glory. If you need help processing your grief and pain, Christian counseling is available to support you.