I write about Stuff

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” —Ephesians 2:1 NLT

Sin is one of those words that makes people uncomfortable. Many prefer to soften it, sidestep it, or redefine it. They see themselves as “mostly good,” as people with kind intentions and decent hearts. And in human terms, that may be true. Most people aren’t trying to cause harm. Most are doing their best with what they know. But Scripture doesn’t measure us against one another. It measures us against the holiness of God—and that changes everything.

The Bible is unflinching in its clarity: everyone has sinned. Everyone has missed the mark. Everyone has fallen short of God’s perfect standard. And that standard isn’t “better than average” or “good enough most days.” Jesus says plainly, “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” It’s a standard none of us can meet—not the gentle, kind-hearted person who tries their best, nor the one who stumbles often. We all fall short.

As women, we often carry a quiet pressure to be “good”—good mothers, good friends, good daughters, good Christians. We measure ourselves by our intentions, our efforts, our sacrifices. But sin isn’t about failing to meet our own expectations; it’s about failing to meet God’s. And that’s something every one of us has done. Some of us miss the mark by a little, some by a lot—but the result is the same. We cannot reach perfection on our own.

And yet, this truth is not meant to crush us. It’s meant to free us. Because once we acknowledge our sin, we can finally understand the depth of God’s mercy. God didn’t leave us in our brokenness. He sent Jesus—the only One who ever lived a sinless life—to take our place. Jesus met the standard we never could. He bore the punishment we deserved. He bridged the gap we could never cross.

When we accept Christ, something miraculous happens. God no longer sees us through the lens of our failures. He sees us through the righteousness of His Son. Our old selves—bound by sin, shaped by guilt, weighed down by shame—are crucified with Christ. Sin loses its power. Its grip loosens. Its voice weakens. We are no longer slaves to it.

This doesn’t mean we never struggle again. It means we no longer struggle alone. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, guides us, convicts us, and empowers us to live differently. We begin to walk in freedom—not because we are strong, but because Christ is. Not because we are perfect, but because He is.

And this freedom is worth celebrating. It’s the kind of freedom that lifts your chin, softens your heart, and fills your soul with hope. You are no longer defined by your past. You are no longer trapped by your impulses. You are no longer controlled by sin. You are alive to God—fully, beautifully, eternally alive.

What about you? How does knowing you are no longer controlled by sin change the way you see yourself, your choices, and your daily walk with God?