Read: Esther 9

If you’re like me, you’ll only have known frustration, disappointment and under-achievement when it comes to international football. After daring to dream, you’ve been rewarded with a dull ache that erodes hope.

I remember the excitement of England hosting Euro ’96 and – very vividly – running out of my downstairs bedroom to watch the replay of each goal as England dismantled Holland to win 4–1. I recall jumping around the room when Michael Owen rounded the Argentine defence to score in the World Cup ’98, then jumping on a chair, fists in the air, when David Beckham scored that penalty in 2002.

Each of these moments gave hope of an ultimate victory – a fleeting hope that, after teasing the supporters so cruelly, left us feeling empty.

This summer, after talking down England’s chances in the 2018 World Cup in order to protect my heart, it all happened again. Hope started to rise, the internet was at its creative best generating video after video and meme after meme that tempted us to believe football was indeed coming home.

But, unless you’ve been living under a rock, or in a cave miles away from people or wifi, you’ll know that England didn’t win the World Cup this summer. They didn’t experience victory!

Though I guess that depends on how you measure victory.

Esther 9 reports victory given to the nation of Israel. At a time when defeat was expected, the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand. Later, nations were defeated, armies quashed and enemies destroyed.

To me this type of victory doesn’t look like the way of Jesus. Victory that results in enemies being hung at the gallows seems to me to fly in the face of the call to turn the other cheek, to resist retaliation and – the most profound command of all – to love our enemies.

To follow the way of Jesus authentically, I need different metrics for measuring victory.

I passionately believe that the world gets changed little by little, as we creatively and generously give ourselves away. God has given each of us amazing talents, passions, skills and experiences. You’re unique and you’re powerful. You’re so powerful that you can make or break someone’s day – in fact, you can change someone’s world by small acts of love, kindness and generosity.

The accumulation of small, intentional choices, creates exponential improvements – a groundswell of momentum and huge potential for transformation. Just as the ocean is made up of billions of drops, so our character is formed by many decisions and our future will be created by powerful choices.

The metric for victory has changed. Now it’s recognised and celebrated in the small things. The art of doing the right thing, the unseen thing, the apparently insignificant thing, commands a sense of victory.

Victory isn’t found in the result, but is embedded in the process. I urge you to find the victory in the process and not be disheartened if it’s not reflected in the result.