7 Things I Want To Say About Profit and Loss

"And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb." Mark 6:29

Imagine how Jesus must have felt when his cousin, John the Baptist, was imprisoned and executed.   

Perhaps you can relate to Jesus.  You too have a relative who may have been put in jail wrongfully or even rightfully...however, while incarcerated they were treated unfairly and even suffered terribly and there was nothing you could do about it.

Your heart is broken.  Your spirit is crushed.  Imagine how Jesus felt when he heard that John was beheaded.

Jesus loved John.  In fact, He spoke highly of him which spoke of the special bond between them.

• Matthew 11:11 "...Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."

Jesus learns of John's death and He gets into a boat by himself and retreats to a solitary place.

• Sometimes you just want to be alone.
• Sometimes you just need time to deal with the pain.
• Sometimes you just need time to heal your broken heart.
• Sometimes you just have to breathe.
• Sometimes you don't have the words.

Jesus had little time to mourn.  The crowds came and even in His time of grief for His fallen brother, Jesus had compassion on the crowd and began to teach.

He wasn't callous.  He wasn't uncaring.  He simply had to move on with His mission.  In fact, although it was painful to lose John, He knew the part that John played in His story.

Jesus' heart was broken, but His compassion
for the LIVING and the importance
of His mission pushed Him on.

What an example!

QUESTION:  Can you or will you continue to lead, to move ahead and focus on the future mission even in the face of a loss?

Perhaps God has allowed it because He knows you can't have ADDITION until He performs an  EXTRACTION. 

• A few years ago, a gentlemen shared his story...that his wife of twenty years decided she wanted a divorce.  A few days later his employer, of twenty five years, eliminated his position.  A few days after that he was in his doctor's office and was told he might have cancer.  
• He was broken.  He said that he felt the weight of the world crashing in on him.  He was dealing with the pain of rejection and wondered if it would ever end.

Friend, relationships, work and health absorb our time, energy, memories and hopes.  Ever had a fulfilling relationship turn to ashes?  Maybe you've excelled at work then a new or insensitive boss decides your services are no longer wanted or affordable.  Or perhaps your health falters.  Your parent or best friend dies suddenly of a heart attack or perishes in an auto wreck.

What do you feel?  Shock?  Grief?  Anger?  Desires for revenge or justice?  Discouragement and depression?  How do you cope with the loss, and how can you start over again?

I don't have all the answers...however, may I suggest...

1. Don't ignore the pain.  Go ahead and grieve the loss.  Take time to reflect on the loss.  Cry. Ask questions of yourself, others and God.  You cannot ignore it...you have to experience it.
2. Ask for help.  God has placed some amazing friends in your life.  Good friends will stay close.  Fellowship with them - eat together, watch football games together, see a movie together.  You can even get help from a trusted counselor.  The bottom line...don't try to handle the loss alone.
3. Guard your heart.  Watch your vulnerabilities. It's tempting to enter new relationships when you're at risk.  It's good to learn from others who are also processing their pain.  However, be cautious that you don't open a door of temptation just because you're feeling lonely.
4. Look for a glimmer of hope.  Perhaps losing that job was the best thing for you.  Now you can go back to school and better your education.  A new opportunity is on the horizon.
5. Cherish the good times.  When you recall the fun times you've shared with others it will help you adjust to your loss.  Be grateful.  But don't become enmeshed in past memories.
6. Turn the page. You will grieve.  But there will come a time when you will turn the page.
7. Go back to your roots.  God loves you so much!  He will give you inner peace, assurance, forgiveness and strength to adapt to difficulties.  Life will throw you curve balls, but always remember - you have a close Friend who has promised to never leave you!

Jesus...what an example to us on how to deal with loss and move forward.

Leaders cannot give in to their feelings
of grief and discouragement because
they set the atmosphere for their followers.

Losses are inevitable but their damage can be MINIMIZED or MAXIMIZED by our response.