"The Struggle Is Real"

July 24, 2020 | By Chuck

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing”(Rom.7:19). Have you ever felt like this? I’m sure we all have because the struggle is real. As long as we live in this life we will struggle with the desires of the flesh. We know what we should and shouldn’t do but we still struggle at times to do the right thing. Paul willingly admits that he struggled to do the right thing. In fact, he admitted to continuing to do evil, the very thing that he didn’t want to do.
The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is very real and one that we all are entangled in daily. There is a struggle between flesh and Spirit because they both have opposing desires. “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”(Gal.5:17). As Christians we are to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal.5:16) but we are constantly being tugged and pulled by the desires of the flesh. The struggle is real.
So, what are we to do? How are we Christians to respond to this seemingly unending struggle? The answer is very simple, keep struggling. Maybe that’s not what anyone wants to hear, but that’s the answer. As long as you are struggling, even though you fail at times, you aren’t totally giving into the flesh. When one gets so tired of the struggle that he gives up, he then gives in to the flesh and his life becomes all about sin and out of control. I know the struggle is real, I live it, but as long as we are struggling to overcome the flesh and live by the Spirit we will remain faithful to God.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”(I Cor.10:13).