Battle Training Part 3: Identifying the Victory

Welcome back superheroes with super armor!

Maybe you don't feel like a superhero just yet.  Maybe your thinking to yourself, "I am way too beat up to fight this battle - much less have any victory."  I have to challenge that thinking - I know what you are made of.  You are made from the hands of the Creator of the Universe.  He has clothed you with His armor.  He has plans of good for you as you humble yourself before Him.

Check out this clip from the movie "Cars" where 3 cars are in a tie-breaking race for the "Piston Cup" .

Who won the race?

Was it the green car (Chick Hicks) because he crossed the finished line first?  Sure.  He won the empty cup.

Was it the red car (Lightening McQueen) because he gave up something of seeming value for the good of someone else?  Sure.  Nobody can walk away from that and gain nothing.

Was it the blue car (the King)?  The King walked away with bumps and bruises.  This was his last race, and he crashed... hard.  He may feel the impacts of this race for the rest of his life - yet he had victory in my opinion.

I'll be honest, the King represents me on a lot of days... I feel like I've crashed and burned.  I ache all over, and it's easy to believe that nothing good can come from such deep ache.  But much like the King's situation, God provides us with strange victories in our lives that may not be that recognizable to the human eye.  You're still wondering how King had any kind of victory...

Well, because the King allowed Lightening McQueen to push him over the finish line, he got to witness a true change of heart in a car that was once so arrogant and self seeking.  Earlier in the movie, King had tried to invest in and provide Lightening with wisdom, but at that point Lightening would hear nothing of it.

Also, the King loved the race so much… because of his accident and then his humility to allow someone to push him across the finish line allowed many other cars/people to embed this race into their minds for a lifetime.  They truly got to experience and see something amazing – so the race that King loved so much was exemplified to a new level.

Victory, from God’s perspective, is sometimes so much more than we can comprehend – He sees the big picture.  He has the Kingdom in mind and He has our individual well being in mind – and something he sees as victory may not seem so much like victory to the world.  God creates the strangest victories by using those who are imperfect, but we must humble ourselves and allow Him to carry us to victory.

I want to share some brief stories of victory that I have had the opportunity to witness... victory from the unexpected because of humility these individuals had before Christ: 

I know at least four people who have restored, healthy marriages and integrity because God purified their minds while leading them to put down pornography.  Beyond the healthy marriages they now have, these individuals are doing amazing things… serving as a counselor, serving our country overseas, serving as a mentor to some at- risk children in the community, and they are AMAZING parents! 

One friend put down pot for the first time in almost 40 years.  This man had been paralyzed in being used by God due to his addiction.  Many people may not think this man has won because his health is in a very difficult place - but now he uses even that to invest in and love others.  Just recently this same man shared how he ran into a frazzled woman at the hospital, found out her daughter was dying, and then he spent 15 minutes praying with her in the hallway of the hospital.  This man amazes me.

A few months ago, I sat at the funeral of a woman who had spent the majority of her adult life struggling with very difficult health issues.  Her ailing health was certainly not what she and her husband had in mind when they were married so many years ago.  During her life, she had every right to give up, not invest in others, and be bitter, yet her funeral overflowed the church we were at.  It was the most amazing celebration of a woman who loved and encouraged others up until the moment she passed from this life to the next.  There was story after story of her amazing love.

In my own story, I look at where I was a year ago.  The fog I was in was so deep after losing Elliot and going through an intensive surgery - this was even before I lost my Mom.  I essentially had to walk away from my career because I wasn't functioning well.  Most would not consider this victory.  I do.  The humility that was required of me allowed me to survive the deepest grief I've ever experienced.  It also allowed me to accept the love and help of others with grace, and I believe it has become the heart beat of our marriage.  When many other marriages crumble under this type of grief and pain, we have been given the blessing of thriving - together.  That is victory at it's core.  I love God; He is so good to us.

Please don't overlook the victory in your own life.  Remember, God's idea of victory may be different than your expectations.  I would love to hear your story of victory!  If you leave me a comment, please remember to let me know if you are okay with me publishing your story.