How You Respond to What You Lose, Tells You What You Worship

Ever had a loss in your life : a relationship, a family member, a home, a job? Losses come in many shapes and sizes.

How did you react to it? Where did you turn in your loss? Did you pull inward towards the Lord, or away from Him? Did you get angry at God, or did you wait to understand His will in that particular situation? Did grief overwhelm you to the point of despair? Were you so attached to whatever you lost that it meant more to you than God?

Your losses can point out what you never realized you worshipped or idolized until it was taken away.

This is particularly true when we lose a loved one. Many of us love our families and loved ones deeply, but if that loss destroys our faith and we can’t come to grips with it, it’s possible that we’ve placed that individual on a pedestal in the place of God. The Lord gives and takes as He pleases. All the family members and relationships we have are gifts from God, and He can take them away at any time in accordance with His will.

How do you respond to loss, particularly to the difficult deaths and goodbyes you must make in your life? My suggestion: Respond in faith. Grieve, but turn to prayer. Question, but look to God for answers. Continue to love God and put Him first. Recognize the gift for what it was and give thanks for it. Finally, appreciate that losses are part of carrying the cross and participating in Christ’s suffering.

And remember, His loss of His life for our sins was far greater than anything we lose in our time on Earth.