[Editor’s Note: We are forgetful and faithless people, so we need constant reminders of God’s faithfulness. This series of devotional articles will serve as stones of remembrance that God is faithful in every circumstance, even in our struggle with sin, loss, fear, and despair. Learn more about God’s faithfulness by studying his Word and walking in relationship with him through our new Faithful Collection featuring the Give Me Jesus Journal.]

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
Psalm 40:11–12

God’s Faithfulness in My Struggle with Sin

I walked into Bible study feeling disgust and shame. For a moment, I thought I might run right back out. I had failed again, giving in to sexual sin, and I felt as if nothing could make me clean. How dare I come to learn about God when I’d just given in to temptation again. How could I claim to love him when I couldn’t even obey his command to stay pure?

Growing up in a Christian home and being taught the Christian sexual ethic is not part of my story. The little I did learn were bits and pieces of unbiblical teaching about purity that made it back to my secular ears. Furthermore, I was introduced to sexual things at a very young age which became the root that grew into a very promiscuous lifestyle as I matured into a teenager. By sixteen, I was fully sexually active. So when the Lord chased me down and saved me at the age of twenty-one, sexual immorality had a deep hold on my soul. It was a way of life; it was all I knew. And as a brand new Christian, I struggled hard.

But—praise the Lord—he didn’t leave me there. He was patient with me and faithful to show me that he provides a way out of every temptation. And dear sister, he does the same for you, too.

“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” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Slowly, I found freedom from sin through putting up boundaries and holding to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I began to say no to this sin as well as other pesky sins through that same power (Rom. 6:4). Do you want freedom? You already have it! If you are in Christ, you are free indeed (John 8:36)! Whether you wrestle with sexual sin, anger, pride, envy, overspending, or any other sin, your old self was crucified with Christ and you are no longer a slave to sin (Rom. 6:6). 

That’s amazing news, isn’t it? But what about when we do fall under the pressure of sin? Is God faithful even then? Does he truly love us in the midst of our failure, or does he look at us in disgust?

The truth we find in Scripture is this: even when we feel most unforgivable and irredeemable, our God is long-suffering and steadfast in his love toward us through his Son, Jesus Christ. He will never forsake us (Lam. 3:22–23; Deut. 31:8; Heb. 13:5). We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ at all times, regardless of how much we’re struggling with a particular sin. He cleansed us of every sin—past, present, and future—on the day we turned to him for salvation (1 John 1:9). When the Father sees us, he sees the righteousness of his Son and is pleased with his sacrifice on our behalf (Eph. 5:2). This is why Scripture tells us we can now boldly approach the throne of grace in our need for help and mercy. 

For Jesus was tempted too but did not sin. He lived the sinless life we never could, ascribing his righteousness to us.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15–16).

We all will struggle with various sins that try to attach to our very souls at some point in our Christian walk. You might wrestle with sins of sexual immorality, or maybe you’re prone to lying. It could be rage that seems to spring out of your body quicker than you feel you can control it. Maybe you constantly battle pride (don’t we all?). Whatever it is, Jesus still loves you. He will never leave or forsake his own. Run to him today. You no longer have to hide in shame. He took all of it when he died on the cross on your behalf. And he’s given you his Spirit to help you fight sin and walk in newness of life (Isa. 53:4–5; 1 Pet. 2:24)