separateurCreated with Sketch.

My curious relationship with sin

confession in shadow
whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative
Jennifer Hubbard - published on 07/18/23
whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative
There is no gaining what I have been freely given. The thought that I somehow could now seems, well, curious.

Help Aleteia continue its mission by making a tax-deductible donation. In this way, Aleteia's future will be yours as well.

Donate with just 3 clicks

*Your donation is tax deductible!

There was a time in my life I had a curious relationship with sin. Thinking about it now, I can see the insanity of it. Back then, though, I thought it made perfect sense. I would coddle my sin for fear that, if the truth of it be known, my armor of faith would be cracked. I disguised my faults, dumbing them down or claiming “it happened once and never again,” knowing full well there would be a next time. 

I wove cautiously chosen words and filtered what was reality into a well-crafted image that would, inevitably, receive the world’s understanding. Carefully curated pseudo-confessions would be quickly justified with reminders of the limitations of my humanness. Wrongdoing accounted for, slate wiped clean, the earthly victory would be claimed, for the moment. 

The question, I believe, or perhaps the choice we are asked to make, is whether we seek an earthly victory or heavenly surrender. In that season of my curious relationship with sin, I chose the former.  

Dumbing down and disguising was by no means malicious; it was desperation. My justifying was an attempt to gain love. I had learned it through performance-based relationships and so I was sure to gain His love; it was imperative I performed at all costs. It was of utmost importance I was not seen as less than. My entire worth depended on it.

What I did not understand was what I thought would crack the armor had already made it past the perimeter. So much for the victory.

I had it all wrong. Despite my best attempts to sweep sin away, unless it is fully confessed, I carry it with me, as thorns that pierce my heart. My efforts were futile, considering there is no place I can go, no depths, no heights that can hide me, all of me, faults and flaws included, from Him and His love. 

There is no gaining what I have been freely given. The thought that I somehow could now seems, well, curious. If I knew then what I know now, my curious relationship with sin would have been ended years before it did.

Truth is, my Lord Jesus knows my exhaustion from performance-based relationships, tenderly massages my devasting hurts, and listens to my deepest longing; He sees me as I am, not through a filtered lens of my choosing, and He loves me. Period. Because of that, there is no longer a need for victories, but only for the sustained surrender. 

~

This is part of the series called “The Human Being Fully Alive” found here.

Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to read more like this?

Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. It’s free!

Aleteia exists thanks to your donations

Help us to continue our mission of sharing Christian news and inspiring stories. Please make a donation today! Take advantage of the end of the year to get a tax deduction for 2024.

banner image
Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to read more like this?

Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. It’s free!