For some, 2020 was a wonderful year of additional family time, filled with laughter and rich memories. For others it was a time of excruciating loss, be that the loss of a job, a year of college, or even the loss of a loved one. Regardless of the level of joy or pain of the past 350 some days, these days do not define our future, either positively or negatively. Consider one of the darkest hours of King David’s life.
At the pinnacle of his prosperity, David made a legacy-changing mistake by seeking out the comfort of his own home rather than being on the battlefield with his men. Perhaps he thought he deserved a break or maybe he was simply feeling unusually old and tired during this season of life. As it often does, sensuality bred even more sensuality and one casual glance across the rooftops opened the door to the Pandora’s Box of adultery, lying, and murder.
In response to David’s failure, Nathan announced that the illegitimate child would die. 2 Samuel 12 records David’s refusal of food or comfort as he prostrated himself for seven days on the floor before God, interceding for the life of this child. Seeing the whispered concerns among his loyal servants, David deduced the child was now dead. The servants were so worried that in his anguish, he might take his own life (2 Samuel 2:12:18); therefore, they were afraid to tell him. When they finally did break the bad news, David surprised them by getting up, washing himself, putting on fresh clothes, and went into the house of the Lord to worship.
Stunned at this sudden reversal of attitude, the servants asked him why he conducted himself thusly. He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” In other words, he could not do anything to change what had happened. The only thing now was to repent, learn, and move forward. Great wisdom for sure, but it is usually easier said than done.
Whether we experience a loss through our own sin, a bad decision, an honest mistake, or simply the result of living in a fallen world, we can either roll over and die or take the next step forward, regardless of how painful or it may be. Language like “I should have …” or “ If only I …” have frozen many futures in time just like it did with Lot’s wife when she looked back to her past in Sodom. In moments like these, our theology is so very important. The scriptures teach that everything that comes our way first goes into the throne room of God’s sovereign grace. Yes, we hurt. Disappointment threatens to suffocate us. We may not understand today, tomorrow, or until eternity. Yet, when we commit everything to God and seek to live the next day to His glory, He can take something bad and make something wonderful out of it.
Even though David and Bathsheba paid a terrible price for their sin, God turned things around and gave them Solomon, and God “loved him.” (2 Samuel 12:24) He became one of wisest kings of all history.
The reality is we all have or will experience loss. In fact, restoration presupposes loss. The question is, “How will we respond in our season of loss?” Lessons like this one is why we homeschool. We want to teach our children not just the 3 R’s but also how to function healthily and biblically in this thing called life. Knowing how to get back up after we’ve been knocked down is one of the most important lessons we can ever teach our children. If they learn to embrace this truth, it will be of more value to their future than any degree or any amount of money.
2020 has been historic. It will be talked about for years to come. 2021 can be equally as historic in our personal lives if we trade our ashes for a beautiful headdress, mourning for the oil of gladness, a faint spirit for garments of praise so that we can be called “oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” (Is. 61:3)
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