If you’ve ever won at anything, perhaps a contest, challenge, sporting event or even a board game, you know it’s a good feeling. But the truth is no one person consistently wins, and winning and losing are a part of playing any game, including and most notably the game of life.

While it’s admirable to approach whatever we undertake with a winner’s mentality, we must also humbly accept losses with grace, dignity, and complete trust in God. Both winning and losing provide opportunities for personal growth as well as play a significant role in shaping our character. Additionally, how we handle winning and/or losing directly affects our potential to move positively forward in the future.

A True Winner

The apostle Paul likens the Christian journey to a race in which everyone is a participant. He explains that every runner should run fully intent on winning. And he promises the prize awarded to everyone who finishes the race, unlike temporary medals that tarnish with time, is an eternal reward that lasts forever. (See I Corinthians 9:24-26.)

In an athletic or scholastic competition, the winner is the individual who excels to the highest level, exceeding their competitors. However, from a biblical perspective, a true winner is someone who gives themselves wholeheartedly to whatever they’ve been called to do, all for the glory of God.

Living Like a Winner

Living like a winner means thinking like a winner, and thinking like a winner requires knowing the truth. And the truth is everyone who trusts in Jesus is already a winner with no effort of their own. Instead, the winner’s status we’ve been granted is solely the result of Christ’s victory. And when we recognize Christ’s victory as ours, we are then positioned to live from a place of personal victory rather than defeat. And when we live like this, we are living as the winning overcomers God has made us to be (Romans 8:37).

Even In Loss, We Win

Loss is a reality of life in this world. It is something everyone experiences at various levels and seasons throughout their lives. And this is not contradictory to the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). In fact, it is often during times of loss that we experience His peace, comfort and presence in the most profound way.

And it is especially in these times that we realize that even in loss, we win. We win because God is with us, and truly no other win can compare with this reality. We win because God is for us, causing all things, even loss, to work together for our good and for His greater purpose (Romans 8:28). And ultimately, we win because nothing, not even loss, can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:39).

Next Steps

Whether in victory or defeat, we all share the common need to consider our next steps. Victors need to beware of falling into complacency by resting in their victory. And those who have experienced defeat need to beware of falling into discouragement and apathy. And this is why it is vital for those in both scenarios to make commitments equipping them in advance to respond in a positive, godly way regardless of desired outcomes.

The following are two critical next steps everyone must commit to following a win or a loss:

Step One: Pressing On

Pressing on is the commitment to move forward regardless of obstacles or setbacks. This is the requirement of both dedicated athletes and followers of Jesus.

A stellar example of this from the recent Olympics is Noah Lyles, who after winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m sprint, posted an inspirational message on social media. Lyles explained that despite his many health challenges, he determined to press on. And he challenged his fans to do the same saying, “What you have does not define what you can become…”

Like Lyles, the apostle Paul also shared a similar message, but of course not on social media, rather in a letter to the church at Philippi. Paul shared that regardless of his imperfections, he presses on to take hold of the eternal prize that God has destined him to win. He explains that he accomplishes this by forgetting past challenges and focusing on what lies ahead (Philippians 3:12-14).

Step Two: Finish Strong

Finishing strong is the commitment to see something through to completion with integrity and excellence. Whether or not we cross the proverbial finish line first or last, if we complete our life race, giving our all and giving our best, we can know that we’ve finished strong. And this is something we should all aspire to and commit to do. However, the time to make this commitment is not during the race. Instead, it is well in advance of the race ever starting.

The truth is no one can predict the course their life race will take. Sometimes our path is clear, and we run with ease, and other times the path is unclear, and the journey is difficult. But if we commit in advance to finish strong no matter the challenges, adversities or hardships, with God’s help we will. And when we do, we will receive a reward far superior to a medal, ribbon or certificate. We will in fact, “receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 NLT).

And my friends, what could possibly compare with this?!

[So] Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way. (Hebrews 12:2 MSG)

Pray

Jesus, thank you for being the perfect example of how to live courageously in this world. Thank you that you experienced both defeat and victory on my behalf. Empower me I pray, to accept both wins and losses with humility and grace. In your beautiful Name I pray, Amen.

Community Question of the Week

What descriptive words would you use in describing your current life race? Encourage others with your response HERE!

Extend grace to others!

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