Losing is not the end.

It’s only the end if you decide to Quit.

Loss touches every one of us at some point in life. The fact is, loss of any kind, is indeed still a loss.

But when our history has been marked with a succession of loss, it leaves us somewhat confused and in desperate need of answers. We begin to think that losing is just in the cards for us.

That is a lie that we do not have to accept. Instead of giving in to this lie, we must choose to PRESS in. To press in to our faith in Jesus.  

Let’s consider the woman with the issue of blood that we read about in the gospels (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48,) who had suffered loss for 12 years.

Luke 8:43-48 New International Version (NIV)

43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Can you imagine her mental state? Let alone her physical state?

Maybe a state of confusion and desperation was beginning to set in, if not already over the course of that time.

Change happens, when our desperation for change outweighs our comfort zone.  

She may have been wondering, what in the world is going on with me. That no earthly doctor understands my condition nor can heal me.

And in addition to losing in her health, she also experienced loss in her relationships and maybe even in any status that she held. As she could not be around people for being deemed or labeled unclean.

So now along with feelings of confusion and desperation, loneliness can be added to the list. She could have easily given up and accepted her condition as her plight in life.

Due to the lose that she had experienced, she could have easily quit. With good reason.

More often than not, we give up way too soon.

But losing is not the end.

We give up only after praying for a few days or for a few weeks. Can you imagine for 12 years?

I’m sure that she became tired and weary. Her reaching to touch the hem of the garment of Jesus may even indicate just how weary she was. Maybe it suggests that she had even been too weak to stand. And was left to stamper on hands and knees to reach for Jesus.

Never the less, she pressed. Instead of giving up and giving in to her situation. She chose to PRESS. She chose to press against the crowd and press towards Jesus.

And that should be our stance when life leaves us reeling from what we’ve lost. We must press against everything else and press towards Jesus.

Because losing is not the end. It is only the end if we decide to quit.