Defeat

defeat - What can I learn from defeat?

I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. . . . My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

Psalm 119:67, 71

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1 Peter 5:6

DEFEAT AND FAILURE can feel crushing. When we experience them after we’ve put forth a lot of effort, it’s difficult to accept that our work hasn’t paid off. However, defeat is a reality that each of us will face. God promises that good things can come even in failure. Defeat teaches us to overcome adversity and persevere through trouble. It strengthens our character, keeping us humble and dependent on God. If you are in a season where you feel defeated, don’t lose heart. Be open to God and allow him to use this time to grow you into the kind of woman who is humbly reliant on him.

Prayer Prompts

Lord, I usually respond to defeat by . . .

Your Word tells me that defeat is an opportunity to experience . . .