WHEN IS A LOSS A WIN?

I just saw an article in the New York Times talking about Virginia winning the NCAA basketball tournament.  The title is: “Virginia’s Historic Defeat Was Fundamental to Its Title.”

Personally, I was rooting for Texas Tech.  But I can’t help but feel happy for Virginia.  After being humiliated last season as the only number one seed in history to lose their first game to a number sixteen team, this is certainly a story of resilience and redemption.  Congratulations to everyone on this team for their “never say die” spirit and all their hard work to reach this goal.

How many of us have learned our most valuable lessons as a result of our most devastating defeats?  As I say in my book, wrong is never right and I’ll never thank God for my sins, but today I can see how God used my weaknesses and defeats to teach me lessons I probably would not and could not have learned otherwise.

My journal was one of my most important tools in my recovery.  In it I was able to write down exactly what happened when I failed.  When did it happen?  How did it happen?  Why did I allow it to happen?  The more I looked back on my mistakes, the more I learned and the better prepared I was to face and defeat tomorrow’s temptations.

Practically everything we ever face in life are situations we have seen before.  I had repeated the same mistakes over and over again for decades.  Until I finally woke up, and with God’s help, began to use my defeats as the key to the next victory.

You can do the same thing.  Why did you lose your temper today?  How did that happen?  What will you do differently so that next time you can keep your cool and deal with that situation in a calm patient manner?

I don’t think anybody likes to lose.  But quite often we learn more from our losses that from the victories.  Losses are excellent teaches.  A great opportunity to stop, reflect and identify the necessary changes so that tomorrow’s challenge can be faced with confidence.

I am tempted to lust every day.  But yesterday’s defeats have taught me how to head temptation off at the pass.  Since I know what’s coming and I know what’s worked in the past I know how to push those temptations aside and keep moving forward.

I’m much rather win than lose.  But a loss is a win when it helps me reach my goal of living for Jesus today, tomorrow and the next day.  Thank you, Jesus for your grace and mercy.  Thank you, Lord, for patiently teaching me and helping me to overcome yesterday’s defeats so that I can walk in the light today.