I have been a Christian for over 30 years. In that time, I have suffered more losses than gains:
- Family deaths
- Career setbacks
- Relationship failures
- Educational disappointments
- Financial collapses
What do you say to losses like that?
Life brings loss. It causes us to question God, be angry with God, cry tears of sorrow to God, and sometimes even to turn away from God.
But remember, when your deepest loss meets your greatest need, you can see God. Because Jesus tells us:
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Remember those frozen popsicle cones wrapped in paper with the gumball on the bottom? We would try to see who could get to their gumball first. It required a lot of fast, messy eating. I would peer through the paper to try to see the color of the gumball without the problem of trying to eat to the bottom, because I didn’t want the gumball in the first place, and I didn’t like the mess. I just wanted the best part, which for me was the sweet, syrupy top. So, I would always lose.
And so it is with God. You cannot expose the beauty of God without going through the mess!
I don’t know why I have suffered so many losses, but God is using them to minister to you right now (2 Corinthians 1:3-10).
Jesus says:
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25).
Schedule some time to be alone with God. Really alone. Tell Him all about your losses and how you feel about them. And then rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).