There really is something fun and catchy about some of the sayings that Millennials are throwing around today.
#sorrynotsorry
#onfleek
#Icanteven
If nothing else, it keeps me on my toes trying to understand what they’re talking about. Thankfully, I have some friends with kids who fall within this generation, and I can usually get my questions answered there if and when the internet fails me.
#thestruggleisreal
This one, though. While I see this one used in far less than qualifying circumstances (i.e. Having a bad hair day, your Starbucks order didn’t come out perfectly, not knowing which shirt to wear out of the 100 that hang in your closet…a.k.a. First world problems), I’m going to take it to a much deeper level today. I found myself resonating with this phrase MUCH today. This led me to the book of Romans, a book of the Bible that I’ve been in for some time now, slowing working my way through it’s verses, chapters, and pages, recognizing that this well is deep, and it will take much time to get to the bottom of it. So, I’ve chosen not to rush my way through it.
The author of Romans, the apostle Paul, gets really real about his struggle with sin in chapter 7, and so that’s where I want to take you today.
“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” Romans 7:14-15
Wow. These words just about leap off of the page at me, especially “for I am all too human.” Anybody else struggle with being painfully human, too? There isn’t a day that passes that I’m not painfully reminded of my human limitations and shortcomings. There are so many days when I want to do the right thing, and I even set out to do it. Then, I somehow manage to get in the way. My humanness that is ever so flawed and broken and bent towards lesser than godly things rears its ugly head, and there I am again.
#thestruggleisreal
“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Romans 7:18-19
And Paul strikes again with refreshing authenticity and honesty. We could learn a thing or two from his genuine confession here. Here’s the deal. I want to live from a posture of humility and love towards all people, but then some of those very people hurt and wound me with their actions and words. It’s then that the struggle becomes really real. I know the good I’m supposed to do (extend grace and forgive) because grace and forgiveness were freely given to me even though I didn’t deserve it, so God asks that I freely give of what I’ve been freely given. But the struggle is real. I don’t want to. My bent and natural tendency is to do one of two things: self-protect from further harm or strike back. Neither are my biblical mandate. Both only lead me further from the one thing God requires me to do:
Love my enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
The more I’m concerned about protecting myself, the less I’m living outwardly to love, defend, and protect others. The more I strike back, the less love is on display.
I imagine there are many hurts, betrayals, hardships, and painful circumstances on the other side of my screen as I type these words that you are reading. Your struggle is real. So is mine.
And so is our God.
He is the God of restoration. He is the God of healing. He is the God who rebuilds and repairs what has been broken. And He wants to start in you. He wants to start in me. He wants to remind us today that our ability to say “yes” to the thing that we just can’t seem to do even though we know it’s right is found in our willingness to abide in Jesus Christ. It will never be done in our own strength, but it’s already been done in His.
I love this. Because the struggle is so real. Some days more than others, but lurking all the time. That’s our enemy.
Wondering how you reconcile this part of Romans 7 with the verses in Romans 6 (2, 6-7, 11 and the ones in between), where Paul says we have died to sin. Wouldn’t he have said this authoritatively? and from his own experience? How do you explain “died to sin” if we still have sin living in us?
Not picking a fight. Just wishing to open a thread for more understanding.
Romans is my FAVORITE!!!! Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
I love that you brought this up, Marcia! What a struggle it is! I suppose the simplest answer to how this is reconciled is the conversation of ongoing sanctification, daily becoming more and more like Jesus, even if only by a fraction of change each day. Does this make sense? What is your take?
That’s a valid take on it. There’s also the idea that Paul is making up a hypothetical man who is still trusting in the Law to save him. He agrees with the law, but just. can’t. keep it! He has just talked about being dead to the law, but this hypo-man is still stuck to it (or it’s stuck to him!) like tar. Who will deliver him? Christ, that’s who, in whom there is none of the self-condemnation he feels. I like this approach, because the other one seems like it will give us license to behave like the old man, which we don’t have. And yet, I appreciate the first approach because of the way we ARE stuck in our flesh, and DON’T always do what we want to do.
I’m still pondering these verses & comments. I was thinking about what you said Marcia about the hypo man, but I’m wondering if he’s trying to explain the contrast between himself and the “sin that dwells with me” (Romans 7:15). I think the idea he is trying to get across is that even though he has died to sin there is still a temporary indwelling of sin, an unwelcomed guest. While sin still accompanies his new identity in Christ here on earth because of Adam, his new identity will result in the final triumph over that nasty unwelcomed guest! That’s another perspective.
Wow! Thank you for this. I needed to hear it more than you know.
I love all this! I know you’re in Romans but Paul also talks about this struggle in Galatians 5:16-17: “But I say, ‘walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” As long as we live on this sinful earth in these flawed bodies, we will have this struggle as we discipline the flesh to walk by the Spirit.
I agree. As a matter of fact, I see this same thing in the first several verses of Romans 8, where Paul talks about the mind set on the flesh, as opposed to the mind set on the Spirit. That’s pretty much the same as walking by the Spirit or the flesh. Again, we have to say, the struggle is real. Maybe the real question is How is the dead man dead? That would come from Romans 6… particularly verse 6-7, but of course, in context. Our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be “done away with” (aka rendered inoperative, aka made powerless) so that we should no longer be slaves to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin. But how much is “powerless” or “freed” just referring to the penalty of sin, not the presence of it in this instance?
I suppose this has been debated for centuries, ans will continue to be. Thanks for your input.