Loss? Or was there ever anything to lose?

I'm really sorry I haven't posted anything for the past month. School has been overly annoying.

Have you ever had something that you held dear? Something that you didn't think you could live without, but then it was ripped away from you?

Here's the BIG question: Have you ever blamed God for it? Or felt your faith and/or commitment shaken by it?

I heard a very good point recently at a church service. This man had lost a lot; and he admitted that. He also admitted that it hurt, and that at times he felt tempted to quit; to simply walk away from the ministry. But he was "still in the fight" in his own words. But the point that struck me the hardest, was his mindset. He said that at one point, he questioned why God had taken these things from him. But he later asked himself a different question: why did God give it to me in the first place?

We first need to remember that EVERYTHING is God's. We own NOTHING. God created, brought about, and owns EVERYTHING. Our houses, our money, our cars, our jobs, even our families. The reality is, we aren't the owners of the things we're given. We're simply the care-takers.

So why should we question God when He intervenes? Isn't God's plan better? Aren't God ways higher than our ways?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

-Isaiah 55:8-9

God clearly states that His plan is bigger and better than ours, and that the scope of His plan is much further than we could ever comprehend.

So why are we upset? Why are we worried? Why are we anxious?

When I think of this topic, I think first of Job. He lost everything. His house, his children, ALL of it. But he never once turned on God. He never once lashed out at God. Instead, he stayed faithful.

Another story that comes to mind is the story of Joseph. Beaten by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and abandoned by them. But look at the result! He saved not just the nation of Egypt, but people from everywhere. And in the end, he got to save his own family, because of his faith and obedience to God.

Yet another character comes to mind when I think of this; Paul. He was cast into prison, shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, etc. He went through more persecution than we can know. Yet he remained faithful. Even when he was bound in chains within a prison, he still held onto his faith. He knew God's plan was best.

So my challenge for you is this: the next time you "lose" something, or if you've already "lost" something, ask God why He moved it out of your hands. Ask Him for guidance, wisdom, and discernment. And don't think of it as a loss, or unfair; just keep God in mind, and keep your eyes on the road in front you you. The road that leads to Christ.