Psalm 23

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . Thou art with me."

How conforting it is to know God walks beside us, even through the valley of death. And so, if He is with us through that valley, is He any less at our side as we walk through other painful places?
I am reminded of what St. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NAB)

Jesus, lover of our soul, abide with us.