There have been times when I feel like giving up. I’m talking about the times when sin is thick and verdant and taking over, times when there is no hope of victory that I can see. I go to the Bible and I see, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9 NKJV)

This sin in my life is wrong; it should not be–why is it so strong? Could it be that I am not born of God like I thought I was? But the Bible also says, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…” (1 John 5:1 NKJV) and I do believe. I look to Him alone for cleansing and forgiveness from sin, and trust Him as much as I know how. If I’m trusting all I know how to do, and am still overwhelmed with unrighteousness, what’s the point? Does it make any difference? And if there’s no point anyway, my soul cries out, I should just give up.

Except…give up and what? There is nowhere to go. Everywhere else is only shadows. There is no other way, no other escape from sin and doom and despair.

These are the times when I could only cry out the same words as Simon Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”

Because that much I do know. Christ is the life and the light and the truth.