When in Romans… Struggle Well

Good morning, everyone! My name is Daniel Langewisch, and I serve as the Valley Creek Campus Pastor. Whether you're joining us from Oak Hill, Wakota Ridge, here at Valley Creek, or tuning in online this 4th of July weekend—welcome! Hasn’t it already been an incredible morning of worship? Can we give a cross-campus round of applause to Teen Challenge? You’ve been such a blessing to our church today—thank you.

Last week, we were in Romans 6, where Paul asks a bold question:

Romans 6:1 NLT

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?

If God forgives us every time… does that give us a free pass to sin? At Valley Creek, Pastor Tom gave a great analogy that captured how ridiculous that mindset really is:

[Video - 2:34-3:17]

Now I loved this analogy… until I woke up Monday morning to find my 18-month old son Micah had been listening to the sermon too. I think I blame you, Pastor Tom, for planting that idea. Now I gave my son a hug and forgave him, but after I took the markers away, he started to cry and proceeded to ask if he could do it again to which I replied, “By no means! By…no…means, Micah.”

That’s exactly Paul’s response. Grace is not a license to sin—it’s the power to live free from it.

Romans 6:22 NLT

But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

That’s who you are. And I could stop there and say “Amen”—but that wouldn’t reflect how many of us actually feel. Because while Scripture says we’re free, a lot of us still feel stuck. Maybe it’s a pattern of anger, a hidden addiction, a critical spirit, or just a deep sense that you’re not who you’re meant to be. And in that place, shame creeps in: “What’s wrong with me?” “I’m a failure.” “I’ll never change.” What’s striking is that everyone—religious or not—feels this inner tension. A battle between who we are and who we long to be. But where does that come from? Really think about it. Animals don’t wrestle with this. They don’t feel guilt or self-doubt—they just act. But humans—we struggle. Why can’t we just do the good we know? Why is it so hard to change? That’s exactly what Paul unpacks in Romans 7: Where does this struggle come from? Why is this struggle so hard? And ultimately, how is this struggle overcome?

Where does this struggle come from?

So first: Where does this struggle come from? Who’s at fault? If something’s broken inside of me, then either I’m the problem—or God is. And let’s be honest: in our culture today, who usually gets blamed? God. So let’s start there—because that’s where Paul starts in Romans 7.

Romans 7:7 NLT

Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin.

Is God’s Law the problem? Are His commands unfair or oppressive? Paul says, “Absolutely not.” The Law isn’t the problem—it’s the spotlight. It reveals what’s already broken.

It’s like going to the dentist. I wasn’t a terrible brusher growing up—but flossing? Let’s just say I was a Chreaster flosser… only on special occasions. Don’t follow my example—I’ve paid for it. Every time I sat in that chair and they shined that bright light in my mouth, I realized things were worse than I thought. Not because of the light—but because of what was already there. The dentist didn’t cause the damage—they revealed it, so I could finally deal with it. That’s how God’s Law works. It shines a light—not to shame us, but to lead us toward life. Every command is a reflection of God’s perfect will, a path to peace, joy, and love. But we don’t always see it that way, do we?

Think back to the garden. Adam and Eve had everything—except one tree. One command: Don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not because God was holding out on them, but because He was protecting them. Only God can carry that knowledge without being corrupted. But the serpent whispered, “God is holding out on you.” And he’s still whispering that lie today. Is there anywhere in your life where you hear that voice: “Don’t listen to God. He’s keeping something good from you”? That’s what sin does—it twists what was meant for life into death. It turns God’s blessings into burdens. And this is exactly what Paul says next:

Romans 7:14–17 NLT

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

So where does this struggle come from? What is the source of the problem? Well, it’s not out there. And for those of you who are living your live always criticizing, blaming others, and avoiding accountability—then hear the truth: The problem is in you. Like putting off the dentist while decay spreads, you won’t heal until you confront the reality of your own brokenness.

Then there are those of you who see the depth of your sin so clearly, you’ve stopped fighting. Somewhere along the way, you started believing your struggle is your identity. But Paul reminds you: You are not your sin. Your failures don’t define you. God’s voice cuts through the shame—not to condemn, but to call you back to who He made you to be. Which then leads to

Why is this struggle so hard?

Why is this struggle so hard? Why do we fail even when we want to do what’s right? Paul puts words to the frustration:

Romans 7:21–23 NLT

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Paul reveals something so important. Sin isn’t just behavior—it’s a power from within that is at war with your mind. Later on in Romans 12, Paul will say, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your ____.” What? Mind. Your mind is a spiritual battleground. Do you view it that way? That everything you feed into your mind—your thoughts, your words, the media you consume, the conversations you have—is either strengthening the grip of sin or breaking its hold? Because every day satan is at war for our minds. To control our thinking. Because he knows if he can control our thinking, he can control our actions. And let’s be honest, his attacks are powerful. The weight of temptation is real. And so often it can leave you in this helpless place where you have failed so many times that it can feel like there is no hope. A place kind of like Paul when he says,

Romans 7:24 NLT

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

How is this struggle overcome?

Who will free you? Who has both the power to free you and the love to want to free you? Who is the only one that can overcome the struggle that you carry?

Romans 7:25 NLT

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the answer to overcoming your struggle—and in three specific ways. First, Jesus pays the punishment for your struggle. One of the hardest parts of battling sin is the shame it brings. “I hate who I am. Why am I like this?” Yet at the cross, Jesus took the full punishment on your behalf. Here’s the truth: you can only feel guilt and shame for what Jesus didn’t die for. But if He paid for it—if He took it upon Himself—then it’s gone. Completely. Overcoming your struggle begins with not just knowing this truth with your head, but believing it deep in your heart.

Second, Jesus provides power amidst your struggle. In our Gospel reading from Mark, we found Jesus on His knees in the garden. And He is crying out to His Father because He is being tempted to not continue on his path towards the cross. Jesus was tempted. He felt temptation. In fact, the book of Hebrews tells us,

Hebrews 4:15–16 NLT

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

You can go to Jesus in your struggle, because first, he understands it. Those temptations you feel. Jesus felt them too. And yet… he did not sin. Jesus has the power to overcome struggle. And he promises to give you the grace and power you need to overcome. This might mean finding fellow brothers or sisters in Christ to hold you accountable, sharing your struggle with others so that they can be praying for you, taking radical measures to guard your mind and guard yourself. With Jesus, you are connected to the one with the power to overcome your struggle.

Finally, Jesus promises victory over your struggle. Following Jesus doesn’t mean the struggle disappears. And we are living proof—our campuses are filled with people wrestling with pride, greed, lust, addiction. Burdens that feel impossible to shake. But the hope of the gospel is not that the battle goes away—it’s that the victory is already won. Don’t be mistaken, Christians and non-Christians both struggle with sin. Everything doesn’t get fixed as soon as you believe in Jesus. But everything does change, and I think it is best explained in the words of the late pastor Timothy Keller, “When you become a Christian, you don’t move from warfare to peace. You move from a battle you cannot win to a battle you cannot lose.”

You may feel weak. You may feel defined by your sin. But today, lay your struggle at the feet of Jesus. Believe that what He did at the cross was enough. Press into the power He gives to fight in the present. And hold on to the promise: your battle ends with victory. Your battle ends with that struggle being conquered once and for all, and you are left standing in the presence of God—blameless, holy, and surrounded by the joy of your Father’s voice saying, “Well done, my child. You are mine. I delight in you.” May this reality in Jesus draw you to leave your shame, live in His power, and celebrate what is to come even as we struggle. Let us pray.