Turning Loss Into Life

Many of us know what it feels like to experience loss. Sometimes it is obvious—a relationship, a job, our health, a dream or someone we love. At other times, the loss is more personal and hidden. It might be a fear, disappointment, rejection, ambition or unanswered question that we carry quietly inside.

A way of reframing our losses is to bring them to God and allow Him to turn them into something that brings life.

Paul says that he considers everything loss compared with knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Throughout Scripture, we see people who discovered that what looked like loss could become an altar—a place of surrender where God could begin to do something much bigger.

Starting with Abraham, Isaac was the son he had waited years for—the fulfilment of God's promise. Yet God asked him to place Isaac on the altar. Abraham had to surrender something precious to him. It wasn't about God taking away his blessing; it was about Abraham recognising that the blessing ultimately belonged to God.

The result of this altar was that Abraham became the father of nations.

Then there is Gideon. He was afraid and hiding when God called him a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6). God asked him to tear down the altar of Baal that stood in his community and build an altar to the Lord. Gideon had to confront his fear before he could step into his calling.

What if some of the things we are afraid of need to become an altar?

Elisha gives us another picture. He was busy working in his family business when Elijah called him. Elisha took his plough and used it as fuel for a sacrifice. He was surrendering his plans and ambitions to follow God's call. His decision would eventually influence an entire nation.

Then there is Jonah, who had his own prejudices and resistance towards the people of Nineveh. In the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed and surrendered. His heart was changed, and eventually an entire city heard God's message and repented.

Leah knew what it felt like to be overlooked and rejected. She longed for her husband's love and tried to find significance through her children. But when Judah was born, something changed. His name means praise. Leah began to turn her attention away from her rejection and towards God.

Her story became part of something far bigger. From the tribe of Judah would eventually come Jesus, the Saviour.

We often see only our lower story—what has happened to us, what we've lost, what hurts and what we don't understand. But God sees the upper story. He sees what He can do through our surrender.

Maybe today there is something we need to place on the altar: our fears, our disappointments, our ambitions, our need for approval, our questions or even something we desperately want to hold onto.

We don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt. We simply need to bring it to God.

We may not understand everything, but we can still trust Him.

Our story may be more significant than we realise.

Father God, whatever I am carrying, I give it to You. Take my fears, my disappointments, my ambitions and my unanswered questions. Help me to place them on Your altar. Turn my loss into life, not only for my sake, but for Your glory and for the blessing of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-           Taken from Jack Reid’s message

Next Steps:

-           Catch up with the message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtm27pPUyQo

-           Spend time today speaking with the Lord and journalling your response to this message.