episode 17. TO WIN YOU MUST FIRST LOSE?

who do we follow? thelawdsway

2 Corinthians 4:17 CSB

In this post, I am going to be looking at 2 Corinthians 4:17 CSB, in consideration to how going through times of loss first is beneficial towards the moment when we win, questioning whether experiencing a loss before a win is necessary. Through this, I am going to try and answer the question: to win you must first lose?

Experiencing and overcoming losses before you reach your wins is a necessity.

So just like I was taught in English at school, let’s first break the question down and understand what each word individually means, before putting them together.

To: to approach or reach; the result of a process; the indication that something is attached or linked; the introduction to the second element in a comparison.

Win: success; victory; accomplishments, acquired as a result of a conflict, bet or other endeavour; something gained gradually or by effort.

You: reference to the person or people being addressed whether in the same class, category, in general and in exclamations.

Must: being obliged and insisted to do something; expressing an opinion about something that is logically very likely; something not to be overlooked.

First: coming before all others in time or order; foremost in position, rank, or importance; the most pressing; at the beginning stages.

Lose: cease to have or retain; cause of failure to gain, win or take advantage.

For the purpose of this topic and in conjunction of each words’ definition, we can assume that the question, To Win You Must First Lose? insinuates that winning is attached to losing. In acquiring such win can be gradual and by effort for you, for us that this question is being addressed to. In attaining the attachment to a win, we are obliged to put loss at the beginning of the process, and in doing so, we are able to encounter the loss before the win, resulting in us obtaining success.

Now, not everyone will agree with this. Why should we have to lose before we can get to our wins? Why do we have to experience and overcome setbacks, challenges, issues, problems, barriers, stumbling blocks- all being loses- before we can be victorious, be in achievement and in completion of what we were working towards? Why do we have to suffer before we get to the stage of peace?

Looking at the placement of the words in the question, ‘to’ is introducing the concept of loss as the second element of the question, in comparison to the concept of winning. Loss must be experienced first, and we are to overcome it before we can win.

It’s a necessity.

We gain more on the other side, the winning side, of the loss, whether it be a barrier or setback, because we have had to characteristically build up the power, faith and strength when met with and during the barrier and setback to ultimately receive our win.

It’s a chain of causation process- one thing must happen first before we get to the next thing.

Focusing on the loss first gives you more time to enjoy your win later. Losses are inevitable but what we do when we are met and in duration of such loss determines how we can overcome it and what win we can achieve. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that you are going through a loss. It can feel overwhelming as you spend time trying to figure out how you got yourself into the situation in the first place and what you are going to do to get out.

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2 Corinthians 4:17 CSB

Before I talk about this question any further, let us look at 2 Corinthians 4:17 CSB:

“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.”

In the Bible, this verse comes at a time where human bodies are being described as clay jars into which God has placed the knowledge of His glory. Clay jars- ordinary containers that are easily cracked and broken. The comparison of us humans to clay jars, was in consideration to the value of the contents of the vessels that lives within us. At times, we may feel weak, we may be going through a loss, and it shows externally through our cracks. However, the Bible reminds us that God will prove His power is at work over us before, during and in the midst of our suffering.

Now I sought to talk about this verse because often we are exactly like the clay jars. Broken and cracked and this commonly stems from the times where we are going through losses. Times where we are facing setbacks, challenges, and issues without any glimpse of hope. Times where the beginning of the process feels like constant failure and you’re just at a loss.

But look at how we are to perceive such losses against our wins. Verse 17 states that these losses are momentary light afflictions. Times of conflictions that are low in their intensity and lasts for a very short time. Now balance that against the wins described in the same verse as an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Can you not feel the drastic change of the atmosphere when you hear those words, describing a win. The win is forever, it is incomparable to the loss we first faced, and it is whole. We don’t receive partial wins but whole wins.

Going back to the concept of clay jars, without these cracks or broken parts in place, how are we able to grasp the understanding and knowledge in how to mend ourselves and place ourselves at a better position, greater and more beneficial for our future and life goals. Without initially facing the cracks, how are we able to truly be prepared for the glory that is in store for us to receive.

I know it’s easier said than done, to experience and overcome your losses to reach your wins. It’s not easy to view the hard things in life as temporary, but that’s exactly what they are when compared to eternity.

Wins are forever.

It may not be a consistent win for every single day of your life, it may happen consecutively but just know that your wins override any losses you first had to face.

To Win You Must First Lose?

Remember, Trust in the Lord, Love like the Lord and Walk with the Lord. TLW

who do we follow? thelawdsway