Spiritual scripture can bring even the non-religious comfort when they're experiencing the loss of a pet or loved one. If you're looking for good Bible verses for pet loss to write in a sympathy card, include in a gift basket, or soothe your grieving thoughts, we have a powerful selection. Grieving a lost pet calls for personal strength, community encouragement, and in some cases, the divine.
6 Comforting Bible Verses for When You Lose a Pet
There's a reason we refer to ourselves as pet parents — we love our pets as deeply and wholeheartedly as we do our children. Losing a pet feels as life-altering as losing a dear friend or family member. If you're struggling and find that tapping into your faith brings you, or someone you know, comfort then these scriptures are a must-read.
Psalm 22:24
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
This Bible verse from the book of Psalms talks about the comforting presence of God and emphasizes that he cares about all of creation. Since pets are as much a part of that creation as humans are, they're included in this care and attention. This sentiment can be especially reassuring for pet owners who weren't able to be with their pet(s) during their last moments. Knowing that a higher power is caring for your pet in your stead may be all the reassurance you need to move forward.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
In times of grief, peace is often in short supply. This verse from the book of John implies that death isn't to be feared and that you can find the peace in your heart that you seek. Finding peace will look different for everyone. It may mean taking a day or two off from work to process the immediate grief or simply having a few quiet evenings if your busy schedule doesn't permit full days off.
Pets who have passed away are, in the Biblical interpretation, at peace, and that thought may give a newly bereaved pet parent some comfort.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
This verse from the book of Isaiah reminds those with Biblical faith to find strength in their God, and that only he can fully support them. It also reminds pet owners that there's nothing to fear when they have faith. Though it's not an assured absolution from the pain that comes with the experience, it's a confirmation that there is a guiding hand to help you through that pain. And if reading scripture isn't enough, prayer can be a great way to work through the sharp sadness of the first few days without a beloved animal companion.
Related: Dealing With the Death of a Pet: Advice to Help You Cope
Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
This verse from the book of Luke directly speaks to God's love for all of the creatures in his creation, even the small and inexpensive birds sold for pennies in the ancient markets. God cares about the suffering and life of every animal in his kingdom as much as he cares for the pet's owner. God remembers each moment of a pet's life, and delights in the beauty of each part of his created world, no matter how small. Because of this profound and unquestioning declaration of care, this verse can be one of the most comforting when you lose a pet.
Genesis 1:20-25
And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
These verses describe the beginning of Earth's existence, in which God paused all the other work to create animals. He deemed them "good" and urged them to increase in number. Think about how hard it is to stop when you've reached a flow state in your passion projects. If God felt so inspired by the idea of animals to stop creation, then they must have a dear place in his heart. And so, this verse can assure the unsure that their pets are being cared for long after their life.
Isaiah 11: 6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
These verses from the Old Testament paint a picture of a harmonious existence in which animals of all types live together happily in peace alongside humans. In God's idyllic world, all animals — and by proxy, all pets — are welcomed into his kingdom. So your lizards, geckos, tarantulas, ferrets, and more will all have eternal harmony according to the Bible.
3 Bible Verses That Prove Pets Do Go to Heaven
If there's one thing that the Bible's known for, it's being interpretable. As a collection of fables, stories, and histories, it's not always the most forthcoming with its framework. While there aren't any clear-cut Bible verses that say pets go to heaven, there are verses that imply their souls are welcome into the kingdom.
Genesis 1:30
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground —everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food. And it was so.
In this verse from Genesis, God is speaking about creation and how he granted "the breath of life" to animals — the same "breath of life" that he grants Adam in Genesis 2:7. You can extrapolate from this that all animals have souls and thus have the ability to ascend through the pearly gates.
Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
This beautiful verse from the final book of the Bible, Revelation, paints a picture of all Earth's creatures — both human and animal — praising God together at the end of times. Given that Revelation explores the end of days, the fact that it notes that animals and humans will stand alongside each other is greater evidence that they'll ascend together.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-20
I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
This verse from Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most apropos when trying to assure a grieving pet parent that their pet is in Heaven since it plainly states that, "all go to one place." There's only one place that the Bible directly refers to in this regard and that's heaven. So, if everything goes to the same place, then there's only one place for them to end up.
Find Solace in Scripture
While some people grieve for their pets from a Christian perspective, not everyone does. Yet, you don't have to be religious to find solace in the ideas presented in these scriptures. When you're grieving, often the most comforting words to hear are the ones that soothe the ache. And we don't know about you, but the idea that our pets' souls are being taken care of and that they're waiting on the other side — whatever form it takes — for us is comforting enough.
