When I originally wrote 40 Things to Give up for Lent in 2014, I talked about how I was a long-suffering Chicago Cubs fan. The Chicago Cubs had not won a World Series in 106 years. I had was crushed in 1984. The Cubs were one game away from the World Series but proceeded to lose the next three games. They did the same thing in 2003. It was heartbreak after heartbreak.
It seemed like they would never win. But the lesson in 2014 was about how you never give up. I kept the faith and two years later, in 2016, 108 years in the making, everything changed. The Cubs finally made it to the World Series.
It didn’t look good at first. The script had flipped. They were down 3-1 in a best of seven World Series. One more loss and they were done. More heartbreak! But somehow, someway they proceeded to win the next three games. The Cubs went from lovable losers to World Series champions. After all those years of cheering for my team, I was finally able to celebrate.
Today, we are giving up “giving up.” Today is a new day. The past does not define us. You have experienced losses. You have experienced roadblocks and dead ends. Consider your losses as life lessons. Learn from those lessons. There is a way through. If there is not a way through, there is a way over. And if there is not a way over, there is a way around. Don’t allow yourself to be defeated by temporary setbacks.
Romans 8:37 says, “we are more than conquerors.” I love that it says we are not just conquerors. We are MORE than conquerors. The only way you can be defeated is if you allow yourself to be defeated.
There may be losses and setbacks along the way. But God has a way of turning the greatest losses in life as a path to victory Think about the resurrection. All seemed to be lost on Good Friday. But Sunday was coming. God’s greatest defeat turned into God’s greatest victory. And he will turn your greatest losses into your greatest victories. Don’t give up. Keep believing.
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