Jesus came for the sick, for those who know themselves to be sinners in need of a Savior. He came for those who continue to struggle and repent and hope in him, day after day, year after year. He knew that saving us was not going to be a “one and done” kind of action, but that we and the people we love would continue to struggle with sin for the rest of our lives. And that those struggles are custom designed to drive us back to him.
Many years ago, when my kids were still toddlers, a seasoned father of six told me, “I’m thankful for my children’s besetting sins.” What?!? The thought exploded in my brain. How could you possibly be thankful for the sins your children struggle with over months, years, or maybe even a lifetime?
He explained that as hard as it was to see his kids mess up repeatedly, he had seen the Lord use those long-term struggles. The longer the struggle, the clearer it became that they couldn’t handle the problem on their own. Their own resources, abilities, and simply trying harder, were not enough to bring victory. It became painfully obvious that they needed help outside of themselves. They needed a Savior.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’re grooming a horse for the first time, and the horse stands still while you brush him and patiently allows you to lift each hoof to scrape out the dirt, you probably think, “That was easy. I’m good at grooming horses. I can handle it again, no help needed.” But, if you’re tasked with grooming a horse who nips you when you try to brush him, and stubbornly refuses to lift a single hoof, you would probably call out for help. You would check in regularly with the trainer to be sure you’re on the right track. And you would seek out help ahead of time the next time you have to groom that horse. The struggle would make you more aware of your weakness and your need for help outside of yourself.
The same thing is true in our struggle against sin. The longer the struggle persists, the more acutely aware we become of our need for someone stronger, more knowledgeable, and more capable to intervene on our behalf. We need help to do what we are incapable of doing on our own. Besetting sin exposes our weakness.
Of course, besetting sin alone is not enough. By itself, it leads to despair. When coupled with repentance, however, its unexpected blessing begins to emerge.