On Trusting God (and myself)
June 26, 2024
Bingo fundraiser for Bethesda
June 26, 2024
By Daniel Francis
When I was in my Confirmation class, one of the teachers said something that only began resonating with me as I got older. He mentioned each of us going on a spiritual journey. He did not make this spiritual journey sound like a holy trek through the desert fasting the entire time, but he said everyone’s spiritual journey is unique to them. At a young age, I could not fully understand the purpose of the spiritual journey, but it has become very apparent as I try to grow in faith and experience struggles.
Sin is enticing. Sin can be portrayed as normal in our daily lives. Yet sin tears us further and further away from God. I have noticed that when you endeavour to get closer to God, it means letting go of that part of you that is tied to sin. So let’s say you have been saved. There is no doubt in your mind that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, and you want to grow your faith to get closer to Him. As you pray more often, read your Bible more often, and have conversations around faith more often, you begin pulling away from the sin of the world.
At first, it may seem easy to give up the sins that are, let’s just say, on the far reaches of your orbit. Meaning, you don’t do them often, so it’s an easy start. You feel good as you grow in faith, but I have noticed that we all get to a point where we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The sins that we have normalised and accepted as just a part of who we are. The sins we did not realise were such an integral part of our lives that we never thought about giving them up or never thought we could. Yet we are at a crossroads where we cannot properly continue to deepen this relationship with God if we cannot let go of these sins. This is the spiritual journey for some, and this is why it is unique to each person.
There can be difficulty in freeing ourselves from the sins that seem to be engraved in us. It is at this point that we become desperate. We try to rationalise all the reasons why we should be able to indulge in this sin. We say that we are only human, we make mistakes. We ignore it and continue along as though it is not a big deal. We tell ourselves we will do better next time when we know we will not even try to resist next time. What is that sin that you bear that you cannot seem to let go of? The sin that the world has normalised, appearing as though it is any other activity, but you recognise it is pulling you away from God.
I see the struggle in myself and in those on a mission to grow closer to God. We experience great difficulty in giving up that sin. It can be excessive drinking, promiscuity, cursing, lying, harbouring impure thoughts, and the list goes on and on. “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (Jas 4:17). We know what we ought to be doing but it is difficult. Exercising self-control is difficult. Fully committing to God so we can walk on the path laid out for us is difficult, but there is an easier way.
Jesus died on the cross for us. His sacrifice showed us that we can live a life not ruled by our mistakes. He also showed us that while we are imperfect humans and we struggle between right and wrong, we don’t have to face this struggle alone. God wants to help us because He knows that we cannot overcome sin without Him. So as you work to deepen your relationship with God and you feel the temptation of sin, call to God for help in those moments. Attempt to embark on this spiritual journey alone and you will find it impossible to fight temptation but walk with God, and you will find that there is a way.
Daniel Francis is a millennial helping other millennials. He is a two-time author of the books The Millennial Mind and The Millennial Experience, and an entrepreneur. Over the past four years, he has served as a Personal Development Coach whose work targets Millennials and helps them tap into their full potential. He is also a self-publishing coach and has guided hundreds on self-publishing their book successfully.
LinkedIn: Daniel Francis
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Website: www.ompublishing.org
