“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, NIV)
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle—knowing what’s right, wanting to do better, but somehow ending up doing the very thing you promised yourself you wouldn’t? You’re not alone. In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul shares that same inner struggle: “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) It’s a raw and honest glimpse into the tug-of-war between our desire to please God and the pull of our human nature. Even with all the right intentions, we find ourselves trapped in behaviors or thought patterns that bring guilt and shame. It’s as if we’re locked in a spiritual prison—knowing the rules, seeing the standard, but lacking the power to break free.
Imagine being in a jail cell with a book of rules that tells you what not to do, but no key to unlock the door. That’s what the Law without the Spirit feels like. We know what God desires, but we feel powerless to live it out. Paul’s words echo our desperation when he cries out, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). And then comes the breakthrough: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25)
Romans 8 opens with hope and power: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Through Jesus, we are not only forgiven—we’re filled with the Holy Spirit who gives us strength to walk in freedom. One way to picture it is like this: imagine your life is a car stuck in a muddy ditch. You press the gas pedal, but the wheels just spin. That’s life in your own strength—frustrating, tiring, and unproductive. But then, someone shows up with a tow truck. They pull you out of the mess, clean you off, and fill your tank with fuel. That’s life with the Spirit. You’re no longer stuck. You’re empowered.
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:11 that “the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.” That’s not a motivational quote—that’s a promise. You don’t have to live in Romans 7 defeat. You can walk in Romans 8 victory. Even when life gets muddy, the Spirit lifts you, leads you, and reminds you that you are a child of God. You are not condemned. You are not forgotten. And nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from His love.
Lord, thank You that I no longer live under condemnation. Even when I fall short, Your grace meets me and Your Spirit lifts me. Help me to surrender my will and walk in the freedom You’ve already given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.