Let me tell you a little story about staying in the game called life. “I will not play this game anymore!” It was unusual to hear this from the mouth of my eleven-years old nephew. He loved this online game and was playing it for months. Concerned, I asked what happened.
In bits and pieces, he shared the story – the loss of his favorite animal, and the lack of understanding and support of his online and real-life friends.
My nephew felt deeply discouraged and disappointed – with himself, with the other online players, with his friends and with the game itself. His disappointment and losses tempted him to give up and never play again.
Why Stay in the Game Called Life?
How often do we find ourselves in a similar situation questioning what is the point to stay in the game? We suffer losses, we are cheated and betrayed, our friends don’t meet our expectations, people disappoint us. What are we supposed to do then and how can we get back on track?
It is easy to stay offended and disappointed. Our pain tries to convince us it is better and safer for us if we give up and stop playing the game, and just remain in the sidelines. Nothing can be further away from the truth and from God’s good plan and will for our lives. It is only by staying in the game called life that we can get back on track and allow God to heal our wounds, redeem our losses, mature and bless us.
It is only by staying in the game called life that we can get back on track and allow God to heal our wounds, redeem our losses, mature and bless us. #endurance #spiritualgrowth #encouragement Share on XRemember to pin me for later!
Learning to Accept Losses and Move On
It is vital to overcome the temptation to stop playing and to resign internally as a result of being rejected, offended or disappointed. We need to come back into the game and stay there. The game called life is about learning to accept losses and move on.
With God as our Healer, Friend, Comforter, and Redeemer, we can learn to let go emotionally of our losses and develop a stable, hope-filled outlook. We can learn to forgive and to handle our disappointments in a healthy way allowing us to keep moving forward.
The game called life is about learning to accept losses and move on. #loss #acceptance #moveon #spiritualmaturity Share on XWhat Happens When We Get Back into the Game?
This day I took my nephew in my arms and told him that I am his friend, always. I explained that if he decides never to play this game again, he will suffer greater losses. He will lose his chance to get back his favorite animal, and the chance to acquire more animals. He will lose the chance to make new friends, and he will lose a source of joy and pleasure. But if he chooses to come back into the game, playing again with all his heart and passion then maybe he will be given even more than the things he lost.
My nephew decided to stay. One day later he “bought back” his favorite animal, and on the next day, he obtained another animal – one he only dreamed about. His joy grew and he was happy that he did not give up to the temptation to quit.
Learning to Stay in the Game and Persevere
Life is much more difficult and complicated than this online game. We get our portions of sorrows, pain, and disappointments. But when we choose by faith to push through, to stay on the course and persevere, then we truly live and experience even greater joy. This is the joy of overcoming in the strength of the Lord, the joy of growth and transformation. We learn to stay and to stand firm, testifying about God’s goodness and faithfulness.
„Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.“ (1 Corinthians 15:58)
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How Can We Grieve Our Losses and Move Forward with God
Do you know that our painful experiences can become the birthplace of blessings and growth if we choose to draw near to God?
You can learn more about why and how God uses pain and hardships to shape us and bless us in my book, “Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings.”
Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing specific losses and the precious blessings in each of them.
More Encouragement for You
If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort when you go through pain, suffering, and losses, I highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer
Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe
This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!
Your Turn
In which areas have you been tempted to quit? If this article has encouraged you, I would be happy if you comment and share it on social media. Thank you!
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I love this! Very well written and very inspiring!
Thank you for your kind words, Mae!
Inspiring and interesting. And need to be read more than once I think Thank you for sharing this with us all!
Thank you, Ann! I am happy that I could inspire you and give you some ideas to reflect on!
I love the way you used your nephew’s situation as an example. So often, good can be gained from life’s disappointments. Thanks for sharing these words of encouragement.
Thank you, Lisa! I wanted to turn this experience into an inspiring story and I am glad that it has encouraged you!
Great advice! It’s so easy to let disappointments get us down. But then we’d stay down. God will give us grace to get back up again.
Thanks, Barbara! You are right – by the grace of God we can get up and get back. The worse we can do is just give up and stop.
When I hit a crossroad it can sometimes feel like make or break. Thankfully, I am not alone in this world. My faith keeps me going!
Yes, you are definitely not alone, Chloe! 🙂 Faith in God is powerful motivation!
What a good real life story you shared. First came in my mind after the first paragraphs was the famous Samuel Beckett quote “Try again,fail again, fail better”, nowadays the mantra of start-ups an entrepreneurs. We all need to learn how to accept losses and move on. Let’s choose faith and trust in the Lord. Thank you for this encouraging post.
Bless you
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Thomas! I am happy that you could relate to the message of this post and felt encouraged!
I often feel discouraged about writing and thinking quitting the blogging game and focusing my energies elsewhere. Thank you for the encouragement!
Thank you, Anita! I understand and can relate being myself part of the blogging game. I am happy that the post could encourage you!