If I’m a Christian, Why Do I Struggle with Sin so Much?
Even when my intentions are good, it can still fall apart.
I started the day with devotions.
That’s a sign of a Christian who has it together, right?
I prayed for the Lord to use me and let my life be a witness to others.
It wasn’t even three hours later that my good intentions fell apart.
Something didn’t go as planned with someone I had hired.
When the situation got frustrating, I snapped at the person on the other end of the phone.
My patience dwindled as my temper flared.
My stress level climbed because I was worried the problem would escalate into something more complicated. I didn’t want to give it more of my time and energy.
Later, when speaking to a friend, I felt the need to rehash the situation and speak badly about the person I had hired.
Instead of trusting the Lord, I chose to focus on all that could go wrong.
Afterward, the Lord convicted my heart and brought scripture to my mind:
Be slow to get angry (James 1:19)
Build others up, not tear them down (Ephesians 4:29)
Do not be anxious (Philippians 4:6-8)
Trust the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I felt like such a failure. I never wanted to sin, and yet I did it so quickly and easily.
Paul felt that way too (Romans 7:15-20). He was perplexed because it seemed no matter how much he wanted to do the right thing, he ended up doing the opposite.
It’s a given that we will struggle with sin.
We won’t be sinless until this life is over.
Paul wonders who will help him do the right thing when he’s not strong enough. He answers this question in Romans 7:21-25. Jesus Christ is able to deliver us.
This journey through life isn’t a sprint but a marathon.
There will be successes and failures (sometimes within hours of each other).
We are called to persevere (James 1:12). This means we keep going in spite of our failures and obstacles.
We can’t give up. We repent and keep walking. God will help us battle sin.
Dear Lord, help me live today in your strength so I don’t fall into sin. Lead me in each step.
I frequently advise people that sinning every day is a part of life. We all make mistakes, sometimes even when we know what the right thing is. We're bound to fail many times, but God is aware of this. He doesn't judge us solely on whether we're perfect or not. God looks deeper, at what's in our hearts. It's crucial to ask for forgiveness when we realize we've sinned, and this may be a daily occurrence. Many young Christians struggle with self-criticism because achieving perfection is, in reality, impossible. But the Christian journey isn't about reaching perfection. It's about striving to live a life that reflects Jesus' teachings and character. It's challenging and we might not always make it, but the more effort we put in, the closer we come to embodying Christ-like qualities.
He is the potter and we are the clay. He promises to break off every branch that does not produce good fruit. Thank God He loves us anyway! ❤️. I think of the old song 🎶. He’s still working on me. 😊