Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

This week’s inspiration comes from a disappointing day as a Minnesota sports fan. Both the undefeated Vikings in the NFL, and Lynx in the WNBA championship, lost important games. As I sat in my disappointment, the Holy Spirit led me to explore lessons about losing.

Let’s spend today looking at misunderstanding losses.

Today’s scripture, John 11:11-15 (NLT)…
[11] Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” [12] The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” [13] They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. [14] So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

Consider…
The ressurection story of Lazarus is one familiar to many of us. Yet in today’s scripture Jesus provides important insight to the purpose of the loss of the beloved Lazarus.

First, Jesus reveals losses are temporary. I say that based on Jesus telling the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

You see, we focus on snapshots while God is looking at the full picture. What we consider the end of the play, God considers intermission.

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, Jesus knew from a human perspective that Lazarus was dead. We know this because the next two verses in today’s scripture say…
[13] They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. [14] So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

These verses add of subpoints, which are…

• God says exactly what He means, knowing that we will not comprehend.
• God clarifies Himself to help us understand

From a hopeless human perspective Lazarus was dead, but in the eye of a faith walker, Lazarus was simply sleeping.

The Apostle Paul understood the distinction Jesus made, and reaffirmed it in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (KJV), which exclaims…
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

While Lazarus’ loved ones were mourning his loss, Jesus was preparing to show them that, weeping may endure for a night but joy will come in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

The Psalmist Tye Tribett lyrically emphasizes Jesus’ clarification…

Weeping may endure for a night
Only one night though
Weeping may endure for a night
Only one night though

Crying may endure for a night
Only one night though
Only one night though
Only one night though

If you cry you can cry one night
Only one night though

Stress you can stress one night
Only one night though

Let the tears fall down one night
Only one night though
Only one night though
Only one night though

If you cry make sure that you cry
Only one night though

If you’re sad make sure you’re sad
Only one night though

If you stress make sure that you stress
Only one night though (only one night though)
Only one night though (only one night though)
Only one night though

Joy comes in the morning
Joy comes in the morning
Joy comes in the morning
Joy comes in the morning

I can see a brand new day (brand new day)
I can see a brand new day (brand new day)

Lookin’ like a brand new day (brand new day)
Lookin’ like a brand new day (brand new day)

I can see a brand new day (brand new day)
Lookin’ like a brand new day (brand new day)

Only one night though

Feelin’ like a brand new day (brand new day)
Feelin’ like a brand new day (brand new day)

Here’s the profound simplicity of Jesus saying that Lazarus has fallen asleep, it provides the hope of waking up. Therefore, whatever disappointment you may have over losses in your life, remember that Jesus says in the midst of death, keep hope alive.

Speaking of keeping hope alive, Jesus’ second revelation is that God uses losses to develop our faith. Look again at what He said…
“Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

God uses disappointments to prepare us for His divine love appointment. The Apostle Paul explains it this way in Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)…
[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Losses empty us, so that God can fill us.

So the next time we’re tempted to become bitter because of a loss, remember God allowed it to happen on purpose to make us better.

The Holy Spirit guided me to 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NLT), to further fortify our understanding. It says…
[50] What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. [51] But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! [52] It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. [53] For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing the fact that we have to lose in order to win. To make His point crystal clear, He directed me to Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:25-26 (NLT), which are…
[25] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. [26] And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Hopefully all of this encourages you, as it has encouraged me to…

• Fortify faith in failure
• See the wins in losses
• Focus on the hope of eternity in the disappointments of reality

Thank you Holy Spirit for using losses to get me back on track with Your winning Way (Jesus).

Today’s Song is…
I Trust You, Lord

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)