When my father was alive, I used to say to Victoria, "I wonder what's going to happen to me and around here when my father goes to be with the Lord?" My father and I had traveled the world together for 17 years. I worked with him day in and day out here at the ministry. He would come over to our house many nights. We would have dinner or go watch the Astros play baseball. Much of my world was built around my father. In the back of my mind, I thought, "When my dad dies, it will never be as good as it is right now." In 1999, my dad suddenly had a heart attack and went to be with the Lord. I mourned the loss of my father, but I didn't get bitter. I didn't have a chip on my shoulder. I didn't feel cheated. I knew that God had fulfilled the number of my father's days. I knew it was a part of God's plan.
I still love and miss my father, and I mean this with all the respect in the world, but what I thought would be my darkest hour turned out to be my brightest hour. I thought I could never be as happy and fulfilled as when my dad was here, but God had another plan. God had something better for the new season of my life. When you go through a loss or a disappointment, it's easy to think, "It will never be like it used to be." If you'll stay in faith and keep moving forward, you're right. It won't be what it used to be; it will be better than it used to be. That's the way our God is. That's beauty for ashes. Now my question is, "Are you still mourning over something that you should be over? If you'll fill your horn with oil, put on a new attitude and start moving forward, you will see the better things that God has in store.
In life, we all have to deal with some kind of loss: loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of a dream, or even the loss of a relationship. It's tempting to feel like something was taken away from us, something was stolen. You can have one of two attitudes. You can say, "God, it's not fair. I don't understand it. How could You let that happen to me?" You can get angry, bitter and pass blame. But a much better approach is to take that loss and sow it as a seed. Say, "God, I don't know why this was taken away, but I'm not going to let anyone steal from me. I'm sowing this as a seed and trusting You to bring me a harvest."
In other words, you didn't get a promotion that you deserved. Don't get bitter. Have the attitude, "Nobody stole this promotion from me. God, I'm sowing it as a seed believing that You will bring me an even better position." A relationship didn't work out. "God, I'm not going to live my life sour, thinking that I've wasted months or even years of my life. I'm sowing this as a seed knowing that You will bring the right person into my life."
You can have a victim mentality, or you can turn it around and give it to God. If you'll choose to sow that as a seed, you'll be amazed at what kind of harvest God will bring you!
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NASB)