Defeating Defeat

John Clardy

2 Tim 1:7-9

7          For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8          Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9          Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…

A man wakes up one Sunday morning and says to his wife, "I'm not going to church today!"

"Why not?" his wife asks.

"I don't feel like it and I don’t think many people there like me." The man replies.

"Well you have to go." insists his wife.

"Why's that?" he asks.

"Because", she says, "You're the Pastor!"

We’ve all had a similar feeling.  There probably aren’t many days that go by that we aren’t attacked by a spirit of defeat. We’ve all been tempted to avoid relationships and responsibilities, to just quit. But we do not have to give up in defeat!  We can defeat – defeat when we know we have a purpose and we are in the will of God. That knowledge refuses to let us quit!

Why was David not afraid to be on a battle field with a giant? Was he to stubborn to back down or to stupid to know any better?  Why didn't he just do like everyone else and fold up in fear?  Why didn’t he just cave in to criticism? Why didn’t he quit when King Saul tried to make fun of him by putting his armor on him?  David defeated defeat by knowing God’s purpose for his life (Is there not a cause?) and by knowing God would provide what he needed to fulfill that purpose!

How was Paul able to endure the hardships he faced?  How was he able to withstand the beatings, the shipwreck, the imprisonment and eventually death?  Because he could refer back to what happened in his Damascus road encounter and remind himself that he was in God’s will!  He defeated defeat by knowing his purpose! 

Acts 26:16         But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

None of us enjoy the setbacks and disappointments of life. I don’t think any of us are gluttons for punishment, but there is a peace in knowing you are in God's will. In fact, there is a joy in knowing you are doing what God wants you to do.  David understood this. Paul understood this. We can learn this too.

Sometimes the pressures of life seem to be overwhelming, but today, make up your mind to live your life according to God’s purpose!  You can win the battle against defeat when you refuse to walk away from where God wants you to be.

God has not given us a spirit of fear or of defeat! He has given us power, love, a sound mind, purpose! Stay where God wants you. Be the person that God wants you to be! Stand in confidence in knowing you are in His will.