Climbing the Wall
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” Philippians 1:19
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16
When I was a camper, I remember taking High Adventure most summers that I was there. I loved the activity, especially the screamer and the leap of faith. I would wait all session to do the screamer even just one time.
While I was waiting the counselors would encourage me to climb the wall instead. The wall used to frustrate me so much. It wasn’t so much that it was difficult, it was more that even if I got to the top one day, I might not even make it up halfway the next day. More than that, even if I felt like I really had mastered one particular wall one summer, the next summer it would feel as if I had never climbed it before.
I tend to have the same approach to parts of my life. I resolve to be kinder, more patient, use more self-control, and some days it works. I feel as if I am making progress, but other days I just end up frustrated at myself for failing to meet my goal.
The problem with that mindset is that I am making it all about myself. I am taking God out of the equation and trying to do it all on my own. Sin is an inherent part of human life; the only person who has defeated sin is Jesus. Thus, why would it make sense for us to try and stop sinning without his help.
We will never be perfect, but the more time that we spend with him and learning about him will cause our lives to be changed. Don’t view your sin like I used to view the wall, a challenge to be conquered once with mastery. Instead, rest in the fact that it is a process that lasts a lifetime, where every day you are learning to be more like Jesus, and the person he created you to be.