Dissecting Loss
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.”
When the word “loss” is used, it is often in conjunction with death. Yet we all experience many forms of loss regularly. In A Grace Disguised: How the soul grows through loss, Jerry Sittser shares that “Being alive means suffering loss.” Sittser continues, “Living means changing, and change requires that we lose one thing before we gain something else.” Life is a continual push-and-pull of losses and gains. Once we embrace the reality of loss, we can better accept its limitations and the blessings it brings.
At 21 years old, I broke my back, and I had to accept the loss of many joys I had previously embraced. I loved canoeing in the Boundary Waters, but I could no longer lift a Duluth pack, portage a canoe, or even sit in a canoe for long. I mourned the loss of several physical activities. Yet, I believe God directed me to find new blessings. I threw myself into reading. Later, a friend introduced me to guitar, which led me to take lessons at the local University. Out of necessity, I’ve learned the value of daily stretching and exercise, which keeps my back muscles strong and reduces the discomfort. I often wonder whether losing several physical activities allowed me to experience other, perhaps even more meaningful, gains.
Sittser calls us to ask, “What meaning can be gained from suffering and how can we grow through suffering.” Asking Sittser’s question takes courage, because the answer forces us to face uncomfortable realities. Yet, Sittser recommends, “to turn toward the pain, however faltering, and to yield to the loss, though I had no idea at the time what that would mean.” Faith gives us the courage to turn into the discomfort of loss and trust our loving God to embrace new gains.
When have you experienced loss in your life? Turn into the discomfort and remember the emotion. Then, reflect on how you received the support and courage not only to survive, but to embrace new gains. Walk through the process of naming the losses and where you found and embraced new gains. Invite God into each step of the process through prayer, because God’s gains provide blessings now and always. Losses need not diminish us, but with God’s help, new gains can be even more meaningful.
