Everybody's Got Somethin'

J.P. and I are both retired and meet regularly for coffee. Seemingly without fail, our conversations eventually turn to someone we both know who is battling a serious problem—health setbacks, financial struggles, relationship challenges, etc. And somewhere in the conversation, one of us will look at the other and say, "You know, everybody's got somethin', don't they?"

It's true. If we're honest, every single one of us carries burdens, some seen and many unseen. Comedian Gilda Radner, in her SNL character Roseanne Roseannadanna, used to quip: "It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another. You people have a lot of problems!" We laughed at the punchline, but it stuck because it touched on reality. Problems are universal. Nobody gets through life unscathed.

Statistics bear this out, as...

seven out of ten adults take at least one prescription medication daily, many for chronic conditions that quietly shape their quality of life;

almost two-thirds of us live paycheck to paycheck—one unexpected bill or emergency away from real trouble;

close to half of marriages end in divorce, often with ripple effects that touch children, friendships, and extended families;

over twenty percent of adults experience a mental illness each year, ranging from anxiety and depression to much more severe struggles;

just under twenty percent of those twelve or older have a substance abuse disorder, ranging from things like illicit drugs to alcohol, and

two-thirds of employees have experienced or witnessed incivility at work within the past month.

There are plenty more categories, but you get the picture. When you do the math, many of us are carrying multiple burdens at the same time. From the outside, life may look neat and polished—especially in the age of curated social media—but just beneath the surface most people are carrying loads they would never advertise.

The Principle

That's why it's worth remembering that everybody's got somethin'. When we take that to heart, two important lessons emerge.

First, we err on the side of GRACE. People's words or actions may come out sharp, distracted, or distant not because they mean harm, but because they're carrying unseen pain. Scripture reminds us: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). When we assume the best and offer kindness first before jumping to any judgment, we not only reflect Christ's love but often open the door for healing connection and deeper conversations downstream.

And second, we need to STOP COMPARING our lives to others' appearances. That family whose pictures look perfect on Instagram? The neighbor whose life seems free of worry? Scratch the surface and you'll find the same human struggles. Envy and comparison drain our joy; gratitude and contentment refill it. Paul pointed us to this truth when he wrote: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11).

Think about a time when you later discovered that someone you knew—maybe even someone you envied—was quietly battling a challenge you never suspected. How did that knowledge change your perception of them? How might it shape the way you extend grace to others right now?

Everybody's got somethin'. That's not a cynical observation—it's a compassionate one. Recognizing that hidden struggles are the norm helps us release unfair comparisons, show patience, and live with greater empathy. And in doing so, we reflect God's wisdom: to love one another deeply, even when we don't know the whole story.