It’s a wonderful gesture to send flowers when a friend or loved one is grieving. But why not give the gift of comfort through a Christian book instead?
Overview: Our Top Picks
Books for Adults
- One Year of Hope by Nancy Guthrie ($9.99)
- Jesus Calling by Sarah Young ($7.53)
- A Grace Disguised by Jerry L. Sittser ($10.99)
- Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman ($10.99)
- Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot ($13.59)
- When God Weeps by Joni Erickson Tada and Steven Estes ($10)
Books for Children
- Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn ($10.39)
- God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn Bergren ($9.89)
- Are You Sad, Little Bear? by Rachel Rivett ($12.53)
- The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown ($14.19)
- I Miss You by Pat Thomas ($8.99)
- Always and Forever by Alan Durant ($12.46)
Jump ahead to these sections:
After all, you know that the Bible brings up the topic of grief more than once — but it can be tough to quickly find those passages. It’s often helpful to have a well-organized book that points to specific Bible verses and handles them in a sensitive manner.
We’ll connect you with a few Christian books that you can give someone who’s dealing with grief.
Best Christian Books on Grief for Adults
It’s hard to know all the answers when a loved one dies, but here are some books that attempt to tackle various subjects as a friend or loved one deals with loss. If you're looking for more recommendations, head over to our list of the best books on grief.
1. The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie
One Year of Hope is a one-year devotional designed to be picked up and read a little each day.
The book provides daily scripture and thoughts to help you through the grieving process. The scripture offers a reminder of God’s presence and gives examples of those who grieve in the Bible.
Guthrie’s words encourage those who are grieving to grow in Christ and walk closer to God.
2. Holding on to Hope: A Pathway Through Suffering to the Heart of God by Nancy Guthrie
Guthrie has experienced two devastating losses of her own — her two children. She shares her losses and specifically guides you through the Book of Job in the compilation, Holding On to Hope.
Studying Job through grieving eyes will give you a new perspective on death and hope, suffering and loss.
You could walk through this devotional as a group study but it also works well when you read it straight through.
3. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young
Young’s book isn’t necessarily a book about grief. It’s a devotional that can help you grow closer to God through daily reminders that He does love and care for you.
Young grew closer to God through journaling and shares her writings in Jesus Calling.
4. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry L. Sittser
Sittser lost his mother, wife, and young daughter in one car accident due to a drunk driver.
A Grace Disguised walks through Sittser’s grief process. He shares all the ways God has comforted him and helped him grow spiritually through it all.
His book illustrates how dealing with loss can slowly allow you to feel joy through pain.
5. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman
Healing After Loss is another daily devotional that can help you walk through grief. It’s a light read that will encourage you through your grief.
Pick it up and read a little bit each day — you’ll quickly realize that you’re not alone when you experience grief.
6. Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
Elliot lost her first husband, then remarried and lost her second husband to cancer two years after they married.
In Suffering is Never for Nothing, Elliot reminds us of Christ’s ultimate suffering. This book is for those who struggle to understand why God would allow them to walk through such pain.
The book harnesses Biblical truths and reminds us that suffering is never for nothing.
7. Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Grief comes with many questions, and heaven is one of the best reminders of God’s truth. Heaven will stretch your imagination about heaven, break down myths and give you a good reminder of where your loved ones are.
It gives you hope from the temporary and encourages you to look forward to eternity.
8. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes
Eareckson Tada’s life shows us God’s love through suffering. She has spent over 30 years in a wheelchair.
When God Weeps shares stories of suffering. She covers the hard questions like, “If God is loving, why is there suffering?” This book touches those subjects to help you understand.
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Best Christian Books on Grief for Children
It might be hard enough for adults to go through the grieving process — one thing that could make it even tougher is to try to help children walk through it as well.
Here are some of the best Christian books to help children answer the questions they have.
9. Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn
Heaven for Kids is an excellent resource for helping children understand God’s truth about heaven. This book is an adapted version of his book, Heaven, which is for adults.
It’s a wonderful resource to help answer questions about death — based on scripture.
10. God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn Bergren
In God Gave Us Heaven, Little Cub listens as Papa Bear describes Heaven. There is no sadness or tears there and God warmly welcomes those who love Him.
The book gently answers those questions young children have and can find comfort in knowing that God gave us heaven.
11. Are You Sad, Little Bear? A Book About Learning to Say Goodbye by Rachel Rivett
Little Bear feels sad after the death of Grandma Bear in Are You Sad, Little Bear?. His mother suggests asking his woodland friends what saying goodbye means.
Little Bear learns that just because you can’t see Grandma Bear, it doesn’t mean she isn’t there.
Are You Sad, Little Bear? opens up a conversation as your child deals with bereavement.
12. The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown also wrote Goodnight Moon.
The Dead Bird is a sweet story about children who find a dead bird in the park. They bury the bird with ferns and flowers as they say goodbye. The children also sing to the bird.
The story is a heartwarming tale that shows how children deal with death.
13. I Miss You: A First Look at Death By Pat Thomas
I Miss You helps children with their feelings and grief and explains that it’s okay to be sad.
Children are encouraged to explore their feelings. The book doesn’t specifically mention heaven but it does explain what happens when you die.
The book does a good job of sharing about loss in general, no matter who a child has lost.
14. Always and Forever by Alan Durant
Always and Forever shares the story of animals who lose their friend named Fox. It walks through his death and the feelings each of the animals have.
Fox’s friends miss him dearly but remember all the good things they loved about him. Talking about Fox makes them all sad — a little too sad to do anything else.
Squirrel comes to visit to remind them of the funny and fun things Fox did. Through the fun memories, their friends realize Fox is still with them in their hearts.
The book captures a healthy way to grieve and can help a child who has lost someone.
15. There’s a Party in Heaven! by Gary and Jan Bower
There's a Party in Heaven! offers Jan Bower’s art and incorporates beautiful images of heaven.
Young and older people are pictured in heaven throughout and you’ll also see scripture through verses and storytelling.
16. The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland
The Memory Box answers these questions: Will I forget my loved ones? What do I do with my feelings?
Children often struggle with how they will remember those they have lost. The book walks children through the idea of creating a memory box to help remind them of their loved ones. It helps them through the grieving process and helps them find comfort.
Get the Right Christian Books
Finding the right book can help your friend or loved one find comfort during the grieving process. You might also want to include a journal with the book you choose to help your friend or loved one process these new feelings.
Still looking for more ideas for kids? Check out this list of children’s books about death.