“You mustn’t confuse a single failure with a final defeat.”
— Scott Fitzgerald

I was glued to the television for much of this summer’s Olympic games in Rio. I’m not an athlete even in the loosest interpretation of that word, but I love to watch those who’ve poured their lives into being the best they can be. Olympians train for four years and yet it all comes down to how well they perform in five or ten minutes.

I can’t imagine how devastating it must be if, when it counts the most, you falter.

I saw what that looked like during the semi-final for the women’s 4 x 100 meter relay race. Team USA was heavily favored to win. The race started well, but then at the second baton exchange from Allyson Felix to English Gardener, the baton was dropped. You could hear the gasp from the crowd; the look on the girls’ faces was heartbreaking. They were done. Disqualified. Out of the race. But then something happened. Felix told Gardener to pick up the baton and keep running anyway. They were so far behind. They had no chance of qualifying but they determined to finish the race. In an amazing turn of events, camera footage revealed that one of the Brazilian team had bumped Allyson’s arm and they were given another chance to compete in the final. Team USA went on to win the gold medal!

What I didn’t understand until later was that even though there was a foul against them, they wouldn’t have been given another chance had they not got up, dusted themselves off and finished their race. They kept running even when it looked as if it was all over.

That race had a profound impact on me as I reflected on the spiritual race we’re called to run as believers. It’s crystal clear that we have an enemy who wants to knock us down. That’s a no-brainer. We understand that. But here’s what we mustn’t miss: he wants us to stay down, over, out-for-the-count! He wants us to miss all that God has planned for us. He wants us to forget God’s promises, or at least believe that they may be for someone else — but not for us. He wants us to believe we’ve fallen one too many times. That is a lie from the accuser of God’s children.

I know it’s discouraging when we trip and fall, but don’t quit. Christ has secured our win. Because of Jesus, no single failure will be a final defeat.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)