“We wait and we persevere, and when it becomes too much, we take matters into our own hands. . . . We choose not to believe in the goodness of God and step in to take the reins of our own lives. If God won’t give us the happiness we want, we’ll find a way to get it ourselves.”- Lina AbuJamra
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”- Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
In Chapter 3 (“Why Can’t I Overcome Sin in My Life?”) of Fractured Faith, Lina AbuJamra talks about what’s truly behind our struggle to change. God’s Word proclaims that we’re no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6). Yet, Lina observes, most Christians live like they’re slaves to something.
Furthermore, these pattern sins — sins that cling closely — frustrate and infuriate us. Because we consistently struggle in that area. also, these sins expose our vulnerabilities and entangle us. And they obstruct our faith in God, who promises to transform us into His likeness. In addition, as the saying goes, “sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
Yet, Lina notes, we continue to struggle with sin. For sin:
- blinds you to the truth while promising to satisfy you
- ravages your soul while promising to relieve your pain
- always promises what it cannot provide and delivers what you do not desire
- promises a moment of pleasure in a world full of pain
- satisfies your anger for a moment, soothes your ache for a second, and relieves your anxiety by distracting you from the present
In conclusion, Lina underscores:
“We sin because we stop believing in the goodness of God. Sin is not a habit issue. It is a heart issue. Sin is not about behavior modification but desire modification.” (emphasis Lina’s)
Today’s question: When do you feel the desire to take the reins of your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Letting go, not giving up – surrender”
