WE WIN IN THE END
I grew up in the golden age of wrestling. This was not like modern UFC fights in an octagon made out of chain fences, nor was it like high school wrestling matches with strict rules, cushioned mats, and concussion-preventing helmets. No, this was way cooler. It was called WWF — World Wrestling Federation. It was a collection of the strongest men and women in the world who professionally punched each other to a pulp. This stuff was over-the-top. Grown men in unitards would throw their friends through tables, smack them with metal chairs, then nail them into a coffin and pretend to run them over. (Yep, that really happened in one of the episodes.) 

Can you imagine my shock when, due to a lawsuit, the WWF had to change its name to WWE — World Wrestling Entertainment? Why did they do this? Because apparently it was all fake. As a kid, I used to hang on to every melodramatic move. Watching in awe as some of my favorite athletes (or actors) would basically play fight for three hours was the best part of my week. Honestly, my child-brain thought it was all real. Turns out a lot of kids thought like I did and believed all this nonsense was authentic. Thus, they had to legally start calling it entertainment. It wasn’t wrestling, it was acting. 

In those fictional fights, the victor had been predefined in a writing room weeks before the fight even happened. Every smack with a chair, every setback, every pretend pass-out was all pre-planned. Even when it seemed like there was no chance at victory, the scripted victor always came out a winner. 

This got me thinking about the fights that we face every day. Scripture teaches that we are constantly surrounded by an ongoing fight between good and evil. Here is the cool thing — we already know who wins. Your victory was made possible by the miraculous work of Jesus who was killed then defeated death. You will experience victory — it was predetermined an eternity ago when God wrote the script. 

READ: Romans 8:32 
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When Paul is writing to the church in Rome, he reminds them that they are more than conquerers. This means that they’re undefeated and undefeatable. The Roman church was facing serious setbacks. The government wanted to shut them down and constantly threatened them with death, but Paul reminded them that their fight is already won. This passage presents the powerful principle that Jesus is greater than death, demons, stress, struggles, sin, and anything that’s holding you back. 

Sometimes we feel like we just cannot win — like victory is no where in sight. I know that some of you are facing overwhelming circumstances in your life. 
You feel like there is no winning in your current social situation. 
You feel like there is no winning in your mental battles. 
You feel like there is no winning in your seemingly endless struggles. 
You may even feel like there is no winning in life itself. 

But, I am here to give you good news! We win in the end.
Jesus is greater than sin. 
Jesus is greater than your doubt. 
Jesus is greater than your insecurities. 
Jesus is greater than your past pain. 
Jesus is greater than your fear. 
Jesus is greater than death itself. 

Whatever you are facing, I can assure you that you’re going to win in the end. Why? Because Jesus is fighting for you — and He will never lose. Stop trying to fight your battles alone! Draw closer to Jesus, because He’s undefeated and He will refuse to lose. 

TALK IT OUT 
Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Q1: What’s your favorite [not so real] reality show? 

Q2: How do you respond to bad days when it feels like you just can’t win?

Q3: How can knowing that good defeats evil in the end change your mindset during struggles?

Q4: How can you draw closer to Jesus in times of conflict to fight from a place of victory? 

Q5: What’s one struggle you can commit to pray to God about every day this week?