God intends us to love our animals—of course, not more than we love people—but still, that love is God-given. The pain of letting our pets go is great because God made them to be precious to us.

One of the most arresting statements in Scripture is this one: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV). The context of this passage shows that in the midst of a world that groans under suffering and evil, God’s main concern is conforming His children to the image of Christ.