All of us experience loss in life – from the minor up to major like losing your job, your health, or the death of your spouse. Some people handle loss well and others fall apart completely. Let’s look at life loss and how to handle it properly.
Examples of Handling Loss Properly
Job and John the Baptist are two people in the Bible that experienced loss. John had the ministry to proclaim the coming of the Messiah to the Israelites. It wasn’t just a job for him, it was his life, his purpose since before he was even born (Lk 1:11-17). But when Jesus showed up on the scene, most people turned to follow Him instead of John. In a day, he basically lost most of his followers and his ministry was greatly overshadowed by Jesus’. That wasn’t just John’s job, it was his life’s purpose. How did he handle losing it? Look:
John’s disciples … came to John and told him, “Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is flocking to Him.” 27 John responded, “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven.” (Jn 3:23-27)
John accepted the loss of his life mission with grace and integrity by citing an important insight – everything we have is given to us from God (Jn 3:27). That means that anything you don’t have is because God didn’t give it to you or he may have even taken it away in his sovereignty. That is what happened in John’s case, Jesus literally took away most of his ministry and John was okay with it.
We see a similar principle at work in Job when he experienced great loss. In one day, Job’s servants were all killed, his livestock were stolen and killed, and all his children were killed (Job 1:13-19). Here’s how he responded:
20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life.The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh. 22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. (Job 1:13-22)
He maintained his love and reverence for God and praised the Lord even in tragedy. A little later his wife got angry at him and encouraged him to get angry at God and lash out. Here’s how he responded:
9 His wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:9-10)
Like John, Job handled the adversity in life by remaining worshipful of God and focused on Him. In a different way, Job recognized the same principle we learned from John. Everything we have is from God. Job worded it differently by saying that we should be willing to accept adversity from God as well as good things. He is sovereign and has our best interests at heart because we are his children.
How to Handle Los Properly
Both Job and John suffered losses in their life but handled those trials properly in faith. You and I need to do the same. The next time you experience loss in life, remember these key lessons from them:
- Remain focused on God and see things from a spiritual perspective – both men immediately acknowledged or turned to God. Some turn away from God when tragedy strikes. Don’t be like them. God still loves you even when you don’t feel loved. Look at your circumstances from a faith perspective.
- Understand that everything you have in life is given to you from God – God is the One who gave you everything you have and it is His right to take anything away that He likes. Keep in mind God has temporarily loaned you all the good things you have – food, house, money, spouse, children, etc. You don’t own any of those things, they are not yours; they are God’s.
- Praise and honor Him instead of turning – Scripture tells you to give thanks in all things (1 Thes 5:18). Even in the midst of trials you can still be thankful for your salvation, that you are God’s child, that He loves you, and that He will see you through. Praising, honoring, and thanking Him will help you to cope and mourn your loss properly and remain focused on Him to get you through.
- Accept the good things from God graciously as well as adversity He may send
We all must deal with great loss in life. It is important that you cope with it properly for the sake of your relationship with God, your witness as a believer in Jesus Christ, and the people close to you.
Handle loss properly by learning from John the Baptist and Job.
Think about it
Do you believe that everything good you have in life is on loan from God?
Do you believe the Lord is sovereign over everything in your life?
Do you accept His will for your life knowing that He loves you and will work things out for your good?
Do you see why we should accept loss graciously from God knowing that it is Him that gave it the first place, that it didn’t happen by accident, that He is sovereign, that He loves us deeply, and He allowed it and will work it out to our good?
What will help you to cope with loss in the future?
Job … fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:20-21 – NIV)
No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven. (Jn 3:27)
“Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” (Job 2:10)Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18 – NIV)
BIBLE DEVOTIONS FOR LIVING 