Are You Feeling Defeated?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Does thinking about what your day holds excite you or make you crawl further under the covers? I’m sure we’ve all had those days where we feel like we want to hide. Maybe you’re facing a battle that is knocking you down and you’re wondering how long you can last. Are you feeling defeated? I want to remind you today that through God, you are perfectly capable of pulling yourself out of the rubble you have found yourself in.

If you’ve seen Spiderman: Homecoming, you know exactly what I mean about having to make that choice between feeling defeated, or reminding yourself who you were created to be.

First, let me briefly catch you up on this movie’s story.

After getting a taste of the superhero life by fighting with the Avengers, we spend the majority of the movie following Peter Parker as he tries to hold onto that superhero life. Though he continues through high school, his mind is constantly preoccupied with when Tony Stark will call him again for another mission. All he wants to do is help people and prove himself as a hero. 

Vulture, the villain of this story, gives Peter this chance.

After realising Vulture is planning to steal a plane full of weapons from the Avengers Tower, Peter goes after him to stop him. I think it’s worth mentioning here that Peter doesn’t have his fancy – Spiderman suit that Tony Stark made for him, since it was taken back when Tony realised Peter wasn’t ready for such a responsibility. So, as Peter now goes after Vulture, he is wearing his own homemade Spiderman costume. This definitely makes you realise that, despite having powers, Peter is just a 15 year old kid. 

Peter finds Vulture in his lair, getting ready to steal the plane of weapons. After distracting Peter with a casual villainous speech, he sends his suit around his lair, destroying support beams so a ton of rubble falls on Peter, therefore enabling Vulture to escape.

Now we’re caught up on the story, now for me, here’s the most important part. This is where we are shown the key to stop feeling defeated.

Peter is stuck. Realising he is pinned down, he does what I’m sure all of us would do. He panics and screams for help. Huge props to Tom Holland for his acting here, it felt very believable and we share in his fear. 

It’s another reminder that Peter is young and vulnerable; which is so relatable. He attempts to summon the strength to lift the rubble off himself, but at this point, his fear is leaving him weak. Here’s the critical moment where we see a young and vulnerable Peter come to realise what he needs to do.

Tom Holland in Marvels ‘Spiderman: Homecoming’ (2017)

Looking at his reflection in the puddle before him, he sees half of himself and half of Spiderman. And right on cue, the words of his ‘Father’ Tony Stark, repeat in his mind.

“If you’re nothing without the suit, then you shouldn’t have it.”

In times where you are feeling defeated, look to who you truly are. Your victory has nothing to do with your circumstances. In fact, your victory has everything to do with the fact that you are a child of God. He has given you everything you need to survive this world. He also, thankfully, never gives us anything beyond what we can handle.

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial, God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 TPT

When you are feeling defeated and weak, that is the very time to dive into the Bible and speak God’s Word over yourself. Remind yourself who you are, and remind yourself of all the tools you have been given to be successful. Be reassured that times of defeat and weakness are the times for which God’s power is able to work through you!

“That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

This is what we see in our friend Peter Parker. Through the words of his “Father” (figure), he summons the strength within him and utilises his power to push himself up and lift the rubble off his back.

Tom Holland in Marvels ‘Spiderman: Homecoming’ (2017)

It’s a true moment of victory for Peter. He humbles himself and shows us that he is much more than just your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. 

I pray that when you are feeling defeated, that you hear the words of your Father. Be sure to spend time in God’s Word so you’re able to ingrain His truth in your heart. Learn His promises so they can hold you up in your hardest times. Remember that God already has the victory! There’s no need for us to feel defeated anymore.