When a friend of ours was visiting the other day, she asked my husband, Joe, and me how our pet duck, Libby, was doing. When we told her that Libby had died the night before, she expressed her condolences. We told her that, after 26 years of raising pet ducks, we were done. When she asked if we had plans to get another pet, we said no, because it was just too painful to lose one. Then she said something that didn’t mean much to me until later that day – "Everyone goes through it."

As I thought about what my friend said, the Spirit of God brought to my remembrance a verse that has comforted me many times before. “Be firm in your faith…knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]” (1 Peter 5:9 AMP) Suddenly, I thought about all of the relatives and loved ones I know who have suffered the loss of their own beloved pets, and how I did my best to comfort them, and to pray for them in their time of sorrow. Sometimes, when we suffer a loss, especially in the early stages, a part of us feels as though no one else can understand the depth of our suffering. If we allow ourselves to have that kind of mindset, we will have a hard time receiving comfort from God and others. On the other hand, if we remember that we “do not suffer alone,” and that even other believers undergo the same sufferings that we do, we will remain receptive to their efforts to comfort us, as well as the efforts of our divine Comforter, the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16 KJV)

Scripture says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV) In His boundless compassion, God comforts us in all of our trials and troubles. And if we will readily receive His comfort, we will be equipped to comfort others with the same kind of compassion. Take comfort in His promise today: “Just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:5 NIV)

Prayer: Lord, when I face troubles of any kind, help me not to suffer alone. Make me quick to turn to You for the kind of supernatural comfort that only You can give. Put it on the hearts of others to reach out and offer me the support that is Your will for me. Thank You that as I reach out to others with Christlike compassion, my comfort through Christ will overflow!