UNPACK This...Finding Purpose in Our Sufferingਨਮੂਨਾ

Finding Encouragement In A Loss

After his team lost its season opener in 2024, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was asked if being 0-1 with Aaron Rodgers playing felt better than the previous year when his team was 1-0 without Rodgers.

In response, Saleh said, “You know what? Unfortunately, it does.”

Although coaches never enjoy losing, knowing they have a superstar athlete on their team can profoundly impact their mindset. Because of the presence of a star athlete, these coaches hope they will make it through the losses they endure to experience ultimate success later in the season.

As followers of Jesus, the Bible promises all believers that suffering and persecution will be a part of our story.

Experiencing difficult times because we follow Jesus is not particularly appealing to us. After all, nobody enjoys suffering simply for the experience of it.

But even though our flesh may be inclined to balk at the idea of future sufferings and persecutions, we can remain encouraged because of who is on our side.

Psalm 118:6 says, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

This verse does not promise us that difficult times will never come, but it does let us know that we do not need to be discouraged when those troubles come because God is with us.

Believers in Christ can be confident that God will walk with them through this life and bring them to ultimate victory in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 explains, “For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Today, let’s be encouraged that our great God walks us through even the most challenging circumstances. More significantly, let’s rejoice over our final victory, being secure in Christ!

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the confidence I can have in knowing that You are with me through my sufferings. Please help me to remain hopeful and encouraged in my difficulties, knowing I have the ultimate victory in Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.