“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
There is a haunting familiarity in these words.
A recognition of our deepest struggles, our battles with self-discipline, and our painful awareness that, despite our best intentions, we often fall short.
We like to believe we are in control of our actions.
That once we know what is right, we will naturally do it.
That once we decide to change, our willpower alone will be enough to sustain us.
But reality proves otherwise.
We stumble, we repeat old patterns, and we make mistakes—even when we desperately wish not to.
Paul’s words in Romans 7:19 are more than just a confession; they are a mirror reflecting the human condition.
They remind us of an uncomfortable but essential truth: failure is part of our journey.
And in recognizing this, we unlock the wisdom, grace, and resilience to rise after every fall.
There is a duality within us—a battle between our higher aspirations and our flawed humanity.
We long to be patient but find ourselves losing our temper.
We aim for discipline but surrender to temptation.
We set goals, make promises, and vow to be better, only to wake up the next day and repeat the same mistakes.
This internal struggle is not unique to a few; it is universal.
It is the war between spirit and flesh, intention and action, the ideal self and the real self.
And it is one of the greatest sources of frustration and shame for humankind.
But here’s the truth: this struggle is not a sign of weakness.
It is a sign of life.
The fact that we recognize our shortcomings means we have not given up.
The fact that we feel the weight of our mistakes means we are striving for something greater.
The presence of this battle within us is evidence that we are growing.
If Romans 7:19 teaches us anything, it is that perfection is unattainable.
No matter how much we strive, we will never reach a state of flawless morality, unshakable discipline, or absolute purity of thought.
And that is precisely why grace exists.
Grace is not an excuse to continue making mistakes; it is the foundation that allows us to rise after every fall.
It is the reminder that our failures do not define us.
That our worst moments are not our final ones.
That no matter how many times we fall, we are not abandoned.
Understanding that we will make mistakes does not mean we stop trying; it means we stop condemning ourselves when we fall.
It means we replace shame with learning, self-hatred with self-compassion, and guilt with the determination to try again.
Mistakes are not merely obstacles; they are teachers.
Every misstep, every failure, and every moment of weakness carries a lesson.
If we are willing to look beyond our disappointment and frustration, we will find that even in our worst moments, we are being shaped.
Mistakes teach us humility – They remind us that we are not invincible, that we are not above failure, and that we, like everyone else, are in constant need of growth.
Mistakes build resilience – They force us to confront our weaknesses and develop the strength to overcome them.
Mistakes deepen our understanding of others – When we recognize our own struggles, we become more compassionate toward the struggles of others.
The greatest people in history were not those who never failed, but those who refused to let failure be the end of their story.
They understood that growth comes not from avoiding mistakes but from learning from them.
Romans 7:19 is not a verse of defeat; it is a verse of reality.
It acknowledges our imperfections but does not demand perfection.
Instead, it calls us to recognize our struggles, to embrace grace, and to keep striving despite our flaws.
So the next time you make a mistake, remember:
You are human.
You are learning.
You are growing.
And that is exactly as it should be.
With love, yours truly, Cristian, in collaboration with ChatGPT.