Everyone has lost somewhere, sometime, something, or someone. Loss is inevitable.
What do you do when you lose?
You have to keep going. You cannot stop. Perhaps you stop for a little while, regroup, and then move forward again, but in all cases you must move forward. You can’t get stuck.
When Jesus was betrayed, He lost one of His disciples. He was someone close to Jesus. Someone Jesus trusted. Someone Jesus loved. And He was someone the other disciples knew and trusted.
In my own experience, betrayal is the toughest loss to endure. Betrayal from family, friends, neighbors, workers, you name it, it’s tough.
After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven we find the disciples starting to take over the mission they were left with. But the 12 disciples were now not 11. What were they to do? They pressed on. They were at a loss, having also been betrayed by Judas but could not stop. So they created a plan, submitted it to the Lord and chose a replacement disciple.
The Book of Acts is all about the actions of the disciples in carrying out the ministry left to them by Jesus.
When you lose, you need to regroup. Submit your plans to the Lord, and then move forward. Do not wallow. Do not quit. Do not give up. You should surrender your plans and resubmit them to the Lord and then move forward.
Prayer
Lord it’s hard to move forward once we have lost. We are fearful and afraid that we may lose again and we hold on to the hurt and pain of rejections. Lord, help me to surrender my fears of losing again, my fears of rejection, and my fear of loss all to you. I ask that you bless my plans and in them you may be blessed. Help me to succeed for your glory and not my own. Thank you for showing us how to love in the midst of loss, trials, and betrayal. May we be like you Jesus, every day.
Photo by Ryan Parker on Unsplash
