Like most people, I am acquainted with loss. In a 2 year and 6 months timespan, four people who were dear to me passed away. Because of these losses, I learned a lot about God and myself. Recently, I have had the opportunity to encourage and strengthen people who are experiencing loss. I am realizing that there are some commonalities in loss even if the loss is different. You may be experiencing the loss of a loved one through death or divorce, the loss of physical function through disability, or the loss of a job or home. What do you do now?
It is important to understand that the loss of a vision is a strong component of your loss. When you experience loss, your vision of what the future was going to be is gone. You may have had holiday traditions, planned to travel, or looked forward to celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by generations of descendants. Maybe your vision was to climb a mountain, run marathons, retire from that company after 30 years, or host family gatherings in your home. With the loss, comes an uncertainty about the future and you may feel hopeless.
The Bible teaches in Proverbs 29:18-KJV, Where there is no vision, the people perish…” As you seek to get back to “normal” or fill the void, the loss of a vision can cause you to make decisions that bring destruction. I would like to tell you that you do not need an immediate vision for your next phase of life. Allow God to heal you in this season of loss and then look to Him to create the vision for you. God has a vision for you, if you are ready to surrender to it.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Three years ago, I did not see myself creating a blog and sharing details about my life. I wanted to live peacefully in the woods and raise my son. I hoped to see him graduate from college, begin a career, get married, and have kids. When he passed away, my vision was gone. I chose to seek the Lord, and wait for God to show me the future that He had for me.
Even now, I do not have a 5-year plan, or a 1-year plan. I cannot tell you what my life will be in 6 months. However, I know that God cares so much about me that the hairs of my head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30). With a Father like Him, I can trust Him with my next step.
For more on enduring difficult circumstances, begin reading the Successful Sufferer Series Part I: Introduction.
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Copyright 2019 T.L. Lockley. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the King James Version. Public Domain.
