The Luxury of Defeat

copyright Millie Plastaras 11/9/08

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange
thing has happened to you!
But REJOICE, inasmuch as you are partakers
of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory may
be revealed you will be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13

In each of our lives some rain must fall.
No one is immune to trials, tribulations,
death, disease, and hard times. But there
is a dramatic difference in how we see people
cope with these issues.

I think that those that always win, or always
seem to be lucky and have everything go right,
soon feel they can do nothing wrong. That life
is all about them, and they soon believe somehow
that makes them better. They take it for granted,
not realizing each victory and good thing is a blessing
and a GIFT!

Defeat can be a good thing. When we lose
we have the luxury of seeing what we did wrong,
how to fix it, and it can give us the courage to get up
and try, try again.

When we win, we go on to the next thing, without
a glance back, often not looking at our mistakes and
altering our course or goals for the better.

Defeat brings about reflection, and this can be used
for the good.

Attitude is the key. Truly, you and I and everyone
you know will face something we don't want to.
We can face it as a victor or a victim. We can let
it forever defeat us, or we can pick ourselves up,
learn from it, become stronger, more sympathetic
with others going through similar things, and we
can change our course.

The trials of life are the reflective, and growth times
that define and strengthen our character. And
when we are too weak to go on, Christ will hold us
until we are prepared to do so. Our sufficiency
and strength comes from time spent in prayer
releasing our burdens and cares to Him, and waiting
for that still small voice to guide us and lead us the
next step.

And He said to me, MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY strength
is made perfect in (your) weakness. Therefore most gladly will I boast
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak,
THEN HE IS STRONG.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

If you don't have that quiet time with Him, you will
hardly be able to hear his voice. And your course of
life will suffer for it.

We can have power, strength and wisdom
even in the hard times. Never let it be the end of the story.
Let it be a new chapter in your thinking and life.

Love always
millie