In 2001, golfer Annika Sorenstam dominated the women’s professional tour, winning eight tournaments. After that phenomenal year, Annika’s chief rival, Karrie Webb, commented that she’d eat her hat if Annika won eight tournaments in the coming year. The following season, Annika won 11 tournaments.

Sometimes the competition is too strong. The fact remains, though, we can’t win them all. John Wooden didn’t win every basketball game that he coached. Jack Nicklaus didn’t win every golf tournament that he entered. Mature coaches and athletes take it a step further; they learn to appreciate the competition’s performance.

We all know that even Christians can sometimes struggle to celebrate the victories of others. Perhaps someone else got the job or a cross-town rival won the tournament. Whatever the situation, we have a tendency to focus more on our loss than on the other person’s gain. But the mature Christian recognizes God’s will in every aspect of life, knowing that His perfect will may involve losses or apparent setbacks.

While the world expects bitterness and resentment in defeat, Christians can stand out by congratulating the victor, knowing that Christ has already won the ultimate victory for us. Not only will this simple act gain the respect of others, it will also make us more gracious on those occasions when we’re the victors.