Victory Versus Defeat
The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
Deuteronomy 28:7 (NKJV)
As the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God set before them a choice: Heed His voice, obey His commandments, and experience continued victory. Or turn from God, disobey His word, and experience repeated and resounding defeat. It was a simple choice. The choice they made would be evident by the results on the battlefield.
The assurance of victory did not mean that the Israelites would not have to strap on their armor and go to battle. It did not guarantee them effortless victory. At times their enemies fought fiercely, and the battles raged back and forth. Nevertheless, as the Israelites walked closely with God, they knew that their efforts would always result in victory.
God gives us the same choice He gave the Israelites. If we walk with Him, in obedience to His Word, He will stand with us and ensure victory over our challenges. We must face the battle, but God promises us victory if we remain in His will. However, if we choose to disassociate from God, we surely will be overtaken by difficulties. As with the Israelites, our decision will be evident by the outcome. If you are continually being defeated by everything you face, your heart has departed from God.
If you have been experiencing defeat in the challenges you face, examine your heart. When you are buffeted by the crises of life, your heart may have shifted away from God. Choose to listen to God. Then obey what He tells you, no matter what you face, and you will experience victory.
Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby
Building Back Up In Beautiful Ways
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
Over the last couple of years, I’ve watched my 30-year-old home undergo several renovation projects. Renovations are not for the faint of heart. They cause a mess, the results are sometimes slow, and the process can feel never-ending.
I’m learning home renovations are so very similar to heart renovations - especially as I’ve walked through painful seasons and relationship hardships. I’ve jotted down some important lessons about healing that I’ve collected from my renovation projects, and I want to pass them along from my journal to yours:
1. Sometimes you have to tear things down before you can build back up in new and beautiful ways.
It’s impossible to see true transformation unless you remove the damaged and unhealthy portions first. Houses and people are alike in this way. Sometimes we have to work through what was so we can move on to what can be. This doesn’t always mean we have to remove people who don’t want to cooperate with healthier patterns for our relationship. But it may mean we create boundaries that clearly outline which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. We establish boundaries not to shove people away but rather to hold ourselves together.
2. Working on the foundation isn’t appealing or attractive, but it’s important.
Jesus spoke of this truth in Matthew 7:24-27:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash”.
Building our lives on anything but God’s Truth will result in a shaky foundation - a detriment to any building project before it even begins. We must put in the necessary hard work of building our lives and our faith on the solid ground of Scripture, daily seeking God.
3. It’s good to stay humble enough to realize sometimes you need to get professionals involved.
Some things you can do on your own, and some things you can’t. Many small home repairs can be handled without professional help, but major renovations must be carefully handled by those with skill and experience. The same is true with the deeper emotional work in our lives. Doctors, Christian counselors, and therapists are trained to bring renewed health and restoration to both body and soul. My family and I have benefited greatly from professionals in seasons when it was necessary for healing, and we’re so grateful for that.
One of the hardest realities I’ve had to face is that it’s not always possible to fix broken relationships. Heart renovations, like home renovations, take diligence, patience, and a whole lot of prayer, and through the process, we have to accept that some things can be changed and others cannot. But with God as our Master Carpenter, we can live assured - we are a beautiful work in progress.
Track the progress you do see. Be patient with the setbacks. Celebrate even the small wins. Stacks of small wins turn into big wins. Eventually, you’ll be so glad you pressed through when you see the beauty that comes from all the hard work.
God, help me have patience with the renovations You’re doing in my heart. In the messy middle of the process, help me see the beauty that’s taking shape and the joy that can be found even here in this season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Lysa TerKeurst
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12-17
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Jesus Wants You To Know...
"I understand your struggles; I know that the world exerts relentless pressure on you, trying to squeeze you into its mold. This is why you need time alone with Me. When you open up to Me and invite Me to transform you, I can work freely in you and accomplish amazing things. One of My most challenging tasks is renovating your mind, and My Spirit is always at work on this project. He does not overwhelm you with His Power. Instead, He prompts you gently and convicts you cleanly - showing you where you need to make changes and helping you develop new attitudes."
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
- Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
- "Jesus Lives" by Sarah Young
God Never Wastes a Wound
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3
There are seasons in life when the weight of pain feels almost unbearable. It might come through loss, betrayal, disappointment, or the quiet ache of waiting. Sometimes we try to hide our wounds, pretending they don’t exist. We smile, say we’re fine, and move on. But inside, something still hurts. The truth is, every wound has a story, and when we place that story in God’s hands, it can become something beautiful.
God never wastes a wound. He is not careless with your pain. He doesn’t allow suffering just to make you stronger or to test you for no reason. Every tear, every scar, every moment of struggle can become part of His greater plan for your life. What the enemy meant to break you, God can use to build you.
The prophet Jeremiah understood this deeply. He was called by God to speak truth to a nation that didn’t want to listen. He faced rejection, loneliness, and moments of deep despair. There were times Jeremiah felt forgotten by God, even angry with Him. But every time he cried out, God reminded him that his calling had purpose. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” That verse from Jeremiah 1:5 tells us something powerful. God knew Jeremiah before the pain ever came, and He had already planned how to use every part of Jeremiah’s story for His glory.
That’s true for you too. God saw your pain before it happened. He saw every sleepless night, every broken dream, every time you felt unseen. He doesn’t overlook those moments. He collects your tears and holds them close. Even when you don’t understand what He’s doing, He’s still working behind the scenes, shaping your heart and drawing you closer to Him.
Sometimes the place of your deepest pain becomes the place where you meet God most intimately. Pain strips away all the distractions and pride. It brings you to a point where you can finally say, “Lord, I can’t do this without You.” And that’s where healing begins. Jeremiah once said, “I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.” He was honest about his hurt. And God didn’t rebuke him for being honest. Instead, He strengthened him to keep walking.
You might not realize it now, but even in your hardest moments, God is near. He doesn’t pull away from brokenness; He leans into it. When your heart is raw and your words are messy, He listens. The same God who called Jeremiah to stand firm is standing beside you in your pain.
The Apostle Paul wrote something similar in 2 Corinthians 12:9. He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul wanted God to remove what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” But instead of taking it away, God transformed it into a reminder of His grace. That’s what He does for us too. Sometimes the wounds we beg Him to erase are the very things that keep us close to Him. They remind us we’re not self-sufficient. They remind us we need His strength every single day.
Healing, though, doesn’t happen overnight. God can heal instantly, but often He chooses to do it in stages. Just like a physical wound needs time to close, emotional and spiritual wounds need time to mend. In Jeremiah 30:17, God promises, “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.” That’s not an empty promise. It’s a process of restoration. God isn’t just trying to patch you up. He’s reshaping your heart, renewing your faith, and preparing you for what’s next.
Maybe you’ve prayed for healing for a long time and it feels like nothing has changed. Don’t give up. Just because you don’t see progress doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Healing is happening in ways you can’t see yet. He’s teaching you patience, building your endurance, and showing you how to rely on Him when nothing makes sense.
Sometimes healing isn’t about forgetting the wound. It’s about learning to live with peace even when the memory still stings. It’s about knowing that your scars are not signs of weakness but reminders of where God has brought you from. You can look back and say, “I didn’t think I’d make it through that, but God was faithful.”
When Jesus rose from the grave, He still had His scars. Think about that for a moment. The Son of God, who conquered death itself, chose to keep the marks in His hands and side. He could have returned without them, but He didn’t. His scars told a story, the story of victory, love, and redemption. They were proof that He had suffered, but also proof that He had overcome.
Your scars can tell a story too. What once brought you pain can now bring someone else hope. The very thing that hurt you can become the thing God uses to comfort others. The compassion you show, the wisdom you carry, the faith you’ve built, it all comes from walking through seasons of pain with God by your side.
God never wastes a wound. Every part of your story matters. Even the chapters you wish you could erase are part of the testimony He’s writing. He doesn’t just heal you to make you whole again; He heals you so you can help heal others. He restores you so you can point back and say, “Look what God has done.”
Maybe you’re in a place today where the pain feels fresh. Maybe you can’t see how any good could come from it. Hold on. God is still writing your story. He’s not finished yet. What looks like an ending might actually be the beginning of something new. The wound you have now might become the very place where His glory shines the brightest.
So keep trusting Him. Keep showing up. Keep praying, even when the words don’t come easily. Healing may take time, but it will come. One day you’ll look back and realize that God was with you in every step, turning every hurt into something holy.
Because He really never wastes a wound.
- Ellie Mont
