October 20

Victory Out Of Defeat

There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. — Hos 2:15 BSB

The valley of Achor symbolizes defeat, failure, and the fainting heart. It was down this valley that the terrified Israelites fled after their defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). Is there any life without its own valley of Achor? Haven’t we all faced a foe that seemed insignificant at first but turned out to be more than a match for our strongest efforts? Can any good come from such evil, or sweetness from such bitter despair?

The tragic story in Joshua 7 shows that good can indeed come from defeat. The disaster led to the discovery and removal of Achan’s sin, which would have otherwise poisoned Israel. It led to humility, self-examination, prayer, and faith, ultimately resulting in victory. Can’t we say the same about our defeats? Certainly, it would have been better to avoid them, but they have not been without their valuable lessons. Every valley of Achor has its door of hope. Sin has reigned unto death, but the grace of God reigns unto eternal life. Through our sins, we have learned to appreciate God’s forgiveness as never before. Through our failures, we have recognized our own weakness and learned to magnify the grace that is made perfect in weakness.

Out of these experiences comes a new song: “She shall sing as in the days of her youth.” You may feel that the joy of life is gone forever, that grief will haunt your days. But God says you will sing again! Though your first summer has passed, there is an Indian summer, even more beautiful. God wants to give you a fresh revelation of His love, to draw you into His tender friendship and fellowship, and to lift you into a life of victory and fulfillment. As these things come to pass—and they can begin today as you turn back to Him—you will find that He has put a new song in your mouth, even praise to our God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening doors of hope in the valley of Achor, for giving us beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning. Put a new song in our mouths today, and let us taste afresh the gladness of Your pardoning love. Amen.