When was the last time that something you absolutely cherished was taken from you? I'm not talking about something you liked or thought was cool, but rather, your most valued possession. My first memory of absolute, tragic, insurmountable loss occurred when I was 6 or 7 years old. I lost my beloved Koosh ball. If you have no idea what a Koosh ball is, your childhood was absolutely tragic. I kid. In essence, a Koosh ball is a cross between a bouncy ball and a sea anemone. I loved that ball, and who wouldn't? I remember bringing it anywhere and everywhere. But at some point I lost the Koosh ball. I remember being absolutely devastated because I had lost my favorite thing. But do you know what happened? I soon discovered another toy, that brought me more joy than the Koosh ball, and my devastation was soon forgotten because something better had taken its place.
Our adult lives can be similar to my childhood story. We lose something near and dear to our hearts and we suddenly think that God doesn't love us anymore. But I can tell you with certainty that He does love you. I can also tell you with certainty, that there is no amount of ______ that can satisfy you. Fill in that blank for yourself.
James 4: 1-2 shows us how we will never be satisfied by earthly things. "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel."
The "passions" that James is referring to are the passions that turn our focus from Christ. But when we become so focused on what we have lost or do not have, we lose sight of what God is bringing next. And many times in my life, the thing that God brings next is better than what was taken. God is a good god, who wants good things for His people. When we can finally get the idea in our head that nothing on this earth will never fully satisfy us, our perspective on loss changes. As Christ followers, we need to look forward in faith to what God has in store for us next.
So what is your next step? Your next step may be finally releasing that thing that God has already taken from you. And trusting Him with whatever comes next. It may be realizing that you are a sinner and you need Christ to forgive you for your sins, or it may be simply discussing your current situation with a close friend. Whatever your next step is, take it. Once we begin to understand that God's desires for our life are so much greater than our own, the desire for what we have lost looks foolish.
(Caleb Bumgarner, from Jacksonville, is a senior at Florida State studying English Literature. At City Church, Caleb serves as Kids Intern. As a former Garnet and Gold Guy, you may direct all glitter related questions/concerns to him.)
City Church Kids Camp!
Finance Update
Buy, Sell, Trade, Give
Contact Us!
