In Prayer: Defeat is not inevitable for His saints

Blessed be the Lord, for He has wondrously shown His steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, I am cut off from Your sight. But You heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to You for help. Love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:21-24

In a game of chess, strategy can be worked out many moves in advance. Sometimes, long before the final play, it becomes obvious that your king is trapped. There is no source of help—no way of escape. If you have played chess, you know how it feels. Defeat is bitter.

It is even more devastating when the same thing happens to us in our actual lives. We may be surrounded by impossible circumstances and see no way of escape. We may be surrounded by the realization of our own mistakes or our own sinfulness. We are consumed with regret or fear. Defeat is bitter.

For saints of Jesus Christ, defeat is not inevitable. We do not need to give up. We can wait expectantly for His rescue. Our pleas to Him will be heard. Even when we feel like He must not be looking, we are still surrounded by His steadfast love. We can be strong and courageous, because our hope is in the Lord and in His mighty strength. When we wait on the Lord in the midst of dire circumstances, we reveal that our hope is in Him. His deliverance will come at the proper time. Victory is sweet.