Don't Let Defeat Define You

Guest Post by Alison Gillaspie

I left the grocery store with my shoulders slumped. I had prepped for the trip by planning meals, clipping coupons, price matching and making an impeccable list. I knew exactly which stores I was going to and had it planned down to the minute detail. At the first store, I stayed in my budget. The second store was a different story. I had forgotten a couple of household items on my list, I went over budget. My planning was not a victory; instead, I was suffering another defeat.

Defeat is an amazing beast. It creeps into your life and before you know it, it takes over and defines you. Over the last few years, I have let defeat be my friend and not my enemy. Defeat takes your eyes off of what’s important and brings the focus to your past, your failures and everything you don’t like about your life at that moment. Any vision you may have for your life or for your business is clouded over when you embrace defeat.

Embrace God’s plan for you

The apostle Paul is an amazing example of pushing the defeats aside to embrace the plan and the victory God has planned for you. From the beginning of Paul’s ministry, he could have given in to defeat. Throughout the cities he traveled, he always had opposition, but instead of allowing the opposition to make him weak, it made him stronger. His message grew louder with each negative shout. His praise for his Lord and Savior became more passionate with each nay sayer in the crowd. His defeats didn’t define him, his victory in Jesus’ name over them did.

Back to my grocery trip…Going over my budget was only part of the defeat I was giving into that day. That one defeat reminded me of all of the defeats over the past few years. If only I had gone back to work immediately after moving, then the grocery store would not be a problem. If only my business was thriving, then I could provide for my family and there would be no guilt as I brought the bags of groceries into the house. How are we going to make ends meet with this paycheck if I overspent today?

Pursue the path – even when it’s not totally clear

As I was driving down the road, I was becoming more of a mess with all of these thoughts in my head. Then I hear a little two year old voice from the back seat sing, “You put the light in me,” and he keeps singing it over and over. He is singing a song about how God put a light in him to shine for all people.

In that moment, I sat a little taller and pushed defeat away. I had a victory. Not having that permanent paycheck from working outside the home has allowed me to be the mom I want to be to my boys. It is allowing me to pursue the path God has for me, even when I don’t see it all clearly.

Defeat is not your song

I will no longer let defeat define me. No matter where you are in your life – starting a business, growing a business, pushing through a divorce – you cannot let defeat be your song. Let your defeats fall quickly at the hands of your victories, and the life God has planned for you will be a much better journey of joy.

Alison Gillaspie is a marketing expert who has a deep passion for seeing small businesses and non-profits thrive through correct marketing practices. She loves seeing businesses work through a branding process and embrace their a-ha moment in marketing that is going to make their business succeed. Her marketing technique is very sensitive to the workings of God and the Holy Spirit within each business.

Alison lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and two boys. She loves working with her clients and is ready to work with you today. Check out her website www.DeepRootedMarketing.com for more details of her marketing services that will make your business succeed!