The Gain of Loss

 

The pain of loss grants gain because we start to realize

That all we have God’s goodness gave; the prelude to The Prize

When we shall see His majesty then we will understand

How loss was but love’s albatross before the Promised Land

When deathless soul flies to its goal like a bird from a cage

Then we will see faith’s Mystery unfold on Heaven’s stage

The pain of loss that shaped the cross that we are called to bear

Will melt like snow when warm winds blow as we shed ev’ry care

The pain of loss carries an awesome opportunity

To lean on He who calms the sea and keens humility

for mortal mold of have and hold is but the brief prelude

That shapes and hones the steppingstones to endless gratitude

The pain of loss may vex and toss the heart with want and woe

Until we cling, through suffering to He who loves us so

And thus begin to hate the sin of selfishness and pride

And look with awe at He who saw our need and did provide

© Janet Martin

 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  
 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
 in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him,
 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, 
but that which comes through faith in Christ, 
the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 
^Eph.3:7-9