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Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV; Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I am sure so many of us can identify with our favourite sporting franchise losing. In some instances, the contest is so close and the defeat only happens in the dying seconds of the game.

A friend shared with me the devastating loss of her national team, they were on the verge of victory and in the last two seconds of the match her team lost.

The players were so broken, but interestingly, the crowd that was gathered in the stadium gave them a standing ovation. This was done in recognition of the fine effort they had put up against a formidable, but stronger opponent.

Our lives are a bit like that. We have instances where we experience defeat right on the brink of victory. Defeat is often an overwhelming feeling that harbours on being extremely emotional. It is something so difficult to explain, but the pain is one we can all identify with.

Our greatest victory is how we respond to our moments of defeat. Let us draw lessons from the sportsmen and women we admire so much. A defeat or a loss does not mean the end of the world.

It merely means we must re-evaluate our approach to the challenge or the match and try again. Sports teams spend an endless amount of time practicing. Intensive training and practice is meant to refine and establish a specific set of skills. The more you practice the better you become.

Dedication plays a fundamental part in our pursuit of any activity, we must be committed to reaching a solution that will allow us to succeed. One of the most difficult things to do is to accept that we have not succeeded. The process of victory starts with an ability to accept.

In accepting, we begin the framework of re-evaluating our actions and refining our game plan for the future. The longer we live in denial, the longer our inability to pick ourselves up.

Till the next time we try . . .

Be blessed.

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