‘Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘ Zechariah 4:6(NLT)
‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”’ John 16:33(NLT)
‘Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ‘ Romans 8:18(NLT)
‘Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. ‘ 1 Peter 5:9-10(NLT)
‘For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.’ 1 John 5:4-5(NLT)
Only two letters separate the words victor and victim, yet vastly different outcomes result from living through one or the other. The language itself is intriguing. The basis of the word vict is Latin and means to conquer. The ending of the word…you get to choose. Victor or victim? One word ending means that you are the one doing the conquering. The other means you are the one who is conquered. How can two words so similar in origin, be so diametrically opposed in meaning?
How does it happen that we know which side of the conquering we want to be on, yet we are living completely opposite?
A word is so easy. The thought, “Well, of course I’m a victor” seems so simple. But many of us are living shattered lives in an ugly, dirty world that is banging, rattling, and shaking us. It turns an obvious choice into a full-fledged fight. If we’re not aware and aren’t fighting, then “vict”-im is the default result.
We hear the words of God’s Holy Word, For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deut. 20:4) Yet, despite these encouraging words we want to believe, we continue to live with a mentality of being a victim—defeated, conquered—hanging on in this earthly life just because we don’t see any other choice. We often don’t even see how victory is possible with the past experiences we have and the circumstances we live with.
Maybe we’re looking at this wrong. Maybe we have worldly eyes, looking at events rather than using a Godly lens to see what He may be doing through the hardships. When I look at my pain, I have every right to be angry. Many things are not fair in the world’s standard of justice. But if I shift perspective, can I see myself on the winning side? Am I expecting an easy, care-free life, or am I willing to fight, even my own expectations, to let God do a work in me?
It makes me consider one of my most favorite survivor stories about Corrie Ten Boom. Her true-story account of barely surviving a Nazi concentration camp taught me about looking beyond hard circumstances to see true purpose in pain. The part that stuck with me most is while in the concentration camp Corrie, her sister, Betsie, and fellow bunk mates began to struggle with an infestation of fleas in addition to all the other atrocities of the camp. Corrie asked Betsie how they were supposed to continue living that way. It was no fair! Betsie looked beyond the circumstances of the victims they were and actually saw the fleas as an answer to prayer! Because of the flea infestation the guards wouldn’t inspect their barracks, leaving them free to keep their contraband Bible and continue holding worship services. They could have wallowed in victim mentality—totally justified, but with a perspective switch they were able to live the most harsh of circumstances as victors.
As you pray through the meaning of the words victim and victor, ask God to let you see circumstances through His eyes. Ask Him, are the pains and troublesome events of my life actually transforming me into a victor? Am I just seeing it all wrong?
Ask Him for a personal perspective change. As you look at the list of pains you wrote down at the start of this study, jot beside them how they could actually be a source of victory for you rather than making you feel like a victim.
How can God use your pain to bring purpose and a mission in your life? Dream big here! Often the biggest trials and adversities bring about the greatest, most victorious lives!
from A Shattered Life: Victor Vs. Victim by Erin Simms