I have been pondering the idea of 'gains and losses' today. Have you noticed that life is full of them?
Both of them.
Whether it's money, freedom, hope, privileges, perspective, weight (let's not talk about this one, Dec was just ugly!), relationships, material possessions, responsibilities, respect, even our very loved ones sometimes. Life, from a human standpoint, is really full of gains and losses.
Sometimes we just don't have a clear understanding, in the moment, of whether what has been given or what has been taken away is a disguised blessing or a crushing blow. We are wise to remember that there is something beneficial to be found in every gain and every loss - IF we look for it. All the more so, in the ones that appear the most brutally painful, those that are in stark contrast to what we'd been hoping for.
I imagine that from God's perspective, there is something redemptive and incredibly useful for our growth in EVERY single circumstance that we perceive as a gain or a loss. All of it is held in His incredibly capable hands and every last bit of it can be used by Him (in our lives). God's love for us is like that of a perfect father. I am convinced that it delights Him to see us rest in His love (for us), knowing ~ really knowing ~ that He has our best in mind. Whatever we gain and whatever we lose pales in comparison to trusting that He will use ALL of it to bring us closer to Him.
"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
