We’re Going to Fall
By Lisa Boyer
“For I do not do the
good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - - this I keep on doing.”
Romans 7:19 (NIV)
Given Paul’s confession that even he doesn’t do the good he
wants to do but does the evil that he doesn’t want to do, it seems this is a never-ending
battle for every Christian, no matter their spiritual age. Most sermons I’ve
heard from the Romans 7:15-25 passage end with, “Thanks be to God, who delivers
me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
While I am overwhelmed by God’s grace towards me in the
deliverance He gives me through Jesus Christ, too often I find myself stuck in a
place before deliverance, that place where I’ve fallen and
feel stuck in my failure.
Recently, I read a quote by Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton
that spoke to me. “The first thing I teach skaters at my skating academy is how
to get up - - because we’re going to fall.” Hamilton goes on to say, “And
that’s how I live my life: I’m going to fall down, I’m going to make mistakes,
I’m going to do all kinds of things that I’m going to wish didn’t happen. But
it’s what’s next - - it’s how you get up.”
I wish my walk with Jesus had started with lessons on how to get
up, but it didn’t. It’s only been in the past few years of my 39-year journey that
I’ve focused on “what’s next” and “how you get up” without getting stuck in my
failure.
So, what is the “get up” plan? You can create your own plan
based on Scripture, but here’s mine: immediate confession and repentance - -
allowing no time to get stuck wallowing in my failure - - and then accepting
forgiveness.
Scott Hamilton’s quote ended with, “The more times you get up,
the stronger you are to face the next thing, which will happen - - because
that’s life.” While my preference is that I never fall, I still do (and not
very gracefully); I’ve learned that when I get back up and make things right
with God quickly, the less likely I am to fall in that same area again.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you struggling with
failure and haven’t found deliverance in Jesus? Today, will you humble yourself
in prayer, confess your sin, repent, and truly receive forgiveness?
2. If you haven’t made a “get
up” plan, will you begin that now?
FURTHER READING:
Lisa is married
to Ted and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves as an event photographer
at Oakwood and wherever else she is needed.
