Loss is loss, or is it?

A loss is a loss, or is it? Could it be both a loss & a gain? I say yes. Sometimes we lose relationships, people, things, jobs, homes, health... Usually our losses are not within our control. Sometimes we choose our losses. We may trade them in for better health, peace of mind, or whatever we hope to gain. My theory is this: If we trust in God, He will take our losess & turn them into our gain.

Our gain may not be what we imagined it to be. It might not be the miracle for which we hoped. It might not be better health or a relationship mended. It might not be the answer for which we pray, but rest assured, our prayers will be answered. "All things work for good for those who love the Lord & are called according to His purpose." That's a promise.

The problem is, our view of good doesn't necessarily line up with God's view. After all, it's not just about us. Every life has a ripple effect, & an answer to my prayer might also be an answer to another person's prayer. We don't have the whole picture, not for ourselves or for anyone else. Only God does, & yesterday is as close as tomorrow for Him.

So... I would have to say, whatever our loss, whether we brought it on ourself or not, whether we can effect the outcome or not, it all boils down to trust. When we place our trust in God, I believe we say, "Not my will, but yours." When we cannot see how anything good could possibly come out of our loss, we place our trust in God.

It is necessary to grieve. If we don't allow ourselves time to grieve, I don't believe we allow healing to take place. It's okay to be human. It's okay to miss what we once had. Being honest about our loss is also necessary to healing. When we turn to God in utter despair, when we beg Him, "How will I get through this loss?" I believe that is when our faith begins to grows. We gain more depth as a person. We find that some voids, can only be filled by God.

When we learn this lesson, we learn to trust in Him, to say, "Not my will, but yours," we begin to realize our gain. It's no longer about the miracle we wanted or the answer for which we prayed. It's about knowing that God knows best & placing our trust in Him alone. It becomes an addiction to His presence. It becomes knowing without Him, we cannot breathe. It becomes a grateful heart in a world of uncertainties. It becomes clinging to His steadfast love.