Lessons in Losing
"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14
Losing hurts. Whether it’s a missed opportunity, a failed attempt, or a setback you didn’t see coming, it’s never easy to fall short of something you’ve been working toward. And it’s even harder when it feels like everyone else is pointing out your failures.
Gonzaga University’s 31-0 season (2020-21 season) leading up to the national championship game was nothing short of incredible. They were undefeated, one win away from making history. But on the biggest stage, they met a team that was simply better that night. Baylor had the size, the plan, and the execution to crush Gonzaga’s hopes of an undefeated season.
After that loss, the narrative quickly shifted. Suddenly, what Gonzaga had accomplished seemed to be overshadowed by their one defeat. Critics were quick to call the season a failure, erasing all the good because of one bad night.
But the truth is, losing doesn’t have to be the end of your story. In fact, it can be the very thing that pushes you toward something greater. As Wilma Rudolph once said, “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.”
Losses don’t have to destroy you. They can develop you. They can teach you things that victories never could. They can reveal your weaknesses, strengthen your character, and give you the motivation to press on with even greater determination.
What setback have you experienced recently? What dream feels like it’s been crushed under the weight of failure? Maybe it’s not the end. Maybe it’s the beginning of something greater.
Don’t let one failure erase all the good God has been doing in your life. Instead, let it be the fuel that propels you forward. Learn from it. Grow from it. And keep pressing on. Because true champions aren’t the ones who never fall. They’re the ones who get back up.
Losing hurts. Whether it’s a missed opportunity, a failed attempt, or a setback you didn’t see coming, it’s never easy to fall short of something you’ve been working toward. And it’s even harder when it feels like everyone else is pointing out your failures.
Gonzaga University’s 31-0 season (2020-21 season) leading up to the national championship game was nothing short of incredible. They were undefeated, one win away from making history. But on the biggest stage, they met a team that was simply better that night. Baylor had the size, the plan, and the execution to crush Gonzaga’s hopes of an undefeated season.
After that loss, the narrative quickly shifted. Suddenly, what Gonzaga had accomplished seemed to be overshadowed by their one defeat. Critics were quick to call the season a failure, erasing all the good because of one bad night.
But the truth is, losing doesn’t have to be the end of your story. In fact, it can be the very thing that pushes you toward something greater. As Wilma Rudolph once said, “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.”
Losses don’t have to destroy you. They can develop you. They can teach you things that victories never could. They can reveal your weaknesses, strengthen your character, and give you the motivation to press on with even greater determination.
What setback have you experienced recently? What dream feels like it’s been crushed under the weight of failure? Maybe it’s not the end. Maybe it’s the beginning of something greater.
Don’t let one failure erase all the good God has been doing in your life. Instead, let it be the fuel that propels you forward. Learn from it. Grow from it. And keep pressing on. Because true champions aren’t the ones who never fall. They’re the ones who get back up.
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