When Opportunity Becomes Opportunity Lost – Or Does It?
Each one of us have been here at least once – when opportunity becomes opportunity lost. Depending upon who you are as the reader, the situation for each of us will be a little different. Possibly it is a relationship that you muffed on. Plus, all kinds of other relationship opportunities like a marriage lost, a child ignored, or an olive leaf not given. Maybe it is a business deal that you did not close. Further related to business, it could be an investment not made, a business lost, or a gain not pursued. For some, a job promotion missed, an application too late, procrastination bites, or fear stifles. And, what about how many times a word is not spoken, a message not given, the wrong message is given, the wrong word is spoken, grace is ignored, forgiveness is not sought or not granted or ignored because of anger. Bitterness grows. I imagine at this point, you have your own opportunity that became opportunity lost.
Or does it? Is it possible that when disappointment over and awareness of opportunity lost sets in, we need to remind ourselves that opportunity lost may not be a total loss at all? Is it possible that opportunity lost immediately becomes opportunity again in a different way? The answer is Yes to both questions. Opportunity lost is not a total loss; as well, it immediately becomes opportunity again.
Opportunity Lost
As described above, life overflows with both opportunities and the converse of opportunities lost. Relational. Vocational. Financial. Personal. Educational. And, the list goes on. In each, there are similarities and dissimilarities. Regarding similarities, the most glaring is the disappointment of loss. Upon reflection, what you thought was possible is no longer reality. Whereas the opportunity represented hope, now the loss of opportunity represents loss, disappointment, and, many times, sadness. Left alone, the reality of opportunity lost can encourage fractured relationships, anger, bitterness, overall downness, and many other unwanted or unwelcomed outcomes.
Regarding dissimilarities, the big issue revolves around responsibility. Whose fault is it that you lost the opportunity? Let me suggest eight categories for your consideration: 1) Your body, 2) Your inner man thoughts and desires, 3) Your emotions and feelings, 4) Your words and actions, 5) Your neighbor (another person on any level), 6) Your circumstances (providential changes such as doors closed), 7) Your evil world (Satan, demons, wickedness), 8) Your God (in cases similar to Bible characters like Job, Esther, or Joseph). For some of these categories, the individual bears complete responsibility – categories 2) Your inner man thoughts and desires, 3) Your emotions and feelings, 3) Your words and actions. In other situations, the individual bears no responsibility – 7) Your evil world, 8) Your God. However, in other situations it is a mixed bag to one degree or another – 1) Your body, 6) Your circumstances.
Before we continue to think through this from a biblical and theological framework, let me emphasize that this opportunity lost may be very significant. You may be overwhelmed by the loss. Your sadness may be absolutely incredible. If this is your case, please do not miss the final section of today’s post.
At the end of the day, however, a door for opportunity closes. Opportunity lost.
Or Does It? Opportunity Gained
The Bible explains that opportunity lost is actually an opportunity gained. In other words, to the same level that you experience loss, to that same level you also can experience gain – just in a different sphere.
Opportunity lost fits in the category of suffering. As listed above, the suffering can come from one or more of eight different categories of origin with varying levels of personal responsibility; however, the resultant suffering (which could be personal consequences like bankruptcy, jail, or a hospital stay) provides you the new or additional opportunity. In other words, opportunity lost provides opportunity gained. In fact, the significance of the suffering experience provides equal opportunity of a significant gain.
You may be asking at this point, So what is it? Great question. Here is the answer: you have the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through suffering.
All Things Work Together … to become conformed to the image of His Son.
The Apostle Paul explains:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29)
In this text, Paul teaches that the circumstance of opportunity lost fits in the greater category of all things. As such, the opportunity lost provides the opportunity to be conformed the image of His Son.
In the midst of the hurt, the sorrow, the disappointment, and the pain, we as followers of Christ have the new opportunity to grow in Christlikeness as we choose how we respond to our hurt, sorrow, disappointment, and pain. Through the power of the Holy Spirit (which is what Paul is discussing in this same text), we can take the next step toward Christlikeness. In this way, loss of opportunity emphasizes opportunity gained.
You are right where God wants you!
No matter what opportunity is lost or who is responsible for the loss in opportunity, the Bible teaches you are right where God wants you in this moment. Consider what James says:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5)
Your loss (again, regardless of responsibility) fits into various trials or what the Bible refers to as a pressured-filled circumstance. In God’s providential plan, your faith gets tested as it undergoes the pressure of the situation. This testing builds patience or endurance. In other words, as you bear up under the weight of the loss, you exercise your spiritual muscles leading to greater endurance. This patience or endurance, as you go through the situation, provides you characterological pieces for your inner man toward Christlikeness that you presently are missing.
Your goal then as you go through opportunity lost is through the power of the Spirit which works in you to endure the situation. As you go through the loss, plead for God to provide you wisdom in order to carefully apply the Bible to your pressured situation of the loss.
Since God is using the pressured situation to grow you characterologically through wisdom, in that sense, you are right where God wants you.
To the Person who is hurting so deeply…
The opportunity to grow into Christlikeness can seem so distant compared to the depth of your loss. If that is your case today, please see through your pain to two spiritual realities that will bless you if you choose to trust them.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)
The first reality: Jesus loves you. In loss, it is easy to miss Jesus’ love because of the heaviness of of the loss. Often we can ask the question, If Jesus loves me then why do I have to experience this loss? We ask that question quite naturally, just like one of our children or grandchildren would ask us a similar question when experiencing something unpleasant, as they experience the significance of the hurt. In those times, we simply hug our children or grandchildren and remind them, I love you. In this text, the Apostle Paul does the same for us. Even in the midst of significant hurt, God, so poignantly, reminds us that He loves us.
The second reality is equally important. In the broad picture of eternity, God knows that becoming like Christ is the most important thing we could ever do. Although we would see whatever it is, we want and view as loss as more important than Christlikeness, God has a grander, brighter, and more long-term picture. Therefore, He uses these things to help nudge us, mold us, and help us become like Jesus.
If you are the one who has experienced such great loss, remind yourself of God’s love and God’s greater purpose of good for you through redemption – even if you have to do that through heavy tears and lament. God hears you and cares about you; He listens and cares, just like we would our own little ones.
Become a Patron Supporter…
Will you consider becoming a partner with this ministry to help offset the cost of the blog. This blog is a work of love; any gift of support continues to make this work possible. Thank you for considering a partnership. Learn more here.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
Trackbacks/Pingbacks