Have you ever lost something so dear that it felt like your world was spun upside down? Maybe you lost many of your earthly possessions, maybe your marriage disintegrated into ashes, maybe a dear relationship fell apart, or finances were lost in a devastating way. For some of you, it may be the decline of your health. Sometimes it can even be looking back on your life and feeling a sense of loss because of decisions you made.

Most, if not all of us, have experienced loss in one way or another that has a left a mark on our life—a scar that still hurts.

That pain that you feel can be used to guide you to a place of bravery founded on the hope we have in God

Our Present Hope

When you experience the aftermath of loss, it can feel like you will never fully recover. But with the Lord all things are possible, including healing from loss and the ability to go through hard times with strength and confidence. And such healing begins by bringing our losses and burdens to the Lord, knowing that He will help us.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

Take everything, every feeling, every doubt, every tear, and every question to the Lord because He has promised to sustain you and your faith during those turbulent times.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10

Peter leaves us with a beautiful and very encouraging promise that, despite our suffering, Christ will restore us and strengthen us. What has been lost may never be replaced, the hardship you face may continue for a long time, but God promises to give you strength to endure and remain faithful to the end. It may not feel like it at the times, but hang on to that promise and take it before the throne of God.

Loss is an inevitable part of this fallen life and while we can find hope now, we also have been given hope for the future.

Future hope

While God supplies everything we need to make it through the ups and downs of this life, He doesn’t stop there. He also gives us so much to look forward to.  

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4

There will come a day, in the not too distant future, where we will be reunited with our Lord. And when that day comes, every evil, hard, uncomfortable, and sad thing will be done away with. It will all be replaced with much joy, overflowing happiness and deep-seated perfected contentment.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

Christ can heal us from our loss and broken-heartedness during our lifetime. It may not happen as quickly as we would like or in the way that we had imagined. But one thing is sure, there will come a day where all of our wounds will be healed, all of our scars removed and our broken-hearted repaired in a way that nothing can ever break again. The assurance of that future restoration is healing to our wounds and refreshment to our weariness.

Looking to Jesus,

 

 

 

Week 4 Challenge: Sometimes we have to be brave enough to let go. What is something in your life that you need to turn over to God so you can heal and move forward with your life? This week, list this in your journal and pray each day asking God to help you let go and give it over to Him.

Reading Plan

Memory Verse


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Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn grew up in Germany and then spent her teenage years in Africa, where her parents were missionaries. She moved to the United States for college and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she met her husband. They have been married for twenty-two years and have four children. Jen lives in the suburbs of Chicago, where her husband is the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship. Jen is passionate about theology and the connection to daily living.

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