Chronicles of a Believer

Inspired by the teachings of Mark DeJesus, Jackie Hill Perry, and, of course, Jesus

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The toxic sin cycle speaks to a cycle we can find ourselves in after having sinned or messed up. 

Once we sin, we find ourselves trying to relieve feelings of ickiness, shame, or sadness. 

So to get rid of these feelings, we try to quickly ask for forgiveness and make ourselves right with God. 

This may look like reading our Bible more, serving in church more, praying more, or doing more good deeds. 

Essentially, we believe we need to do more. More, more more. 

When we do more, then God will be pleased with us. 

However, it is only a matter of time before we find ourselves falling into that same sin. 

And so begins the cycle where we sin, quickly ask for forgiveness to relieve any feelings we may feel, attempt to make things right with God, try hard not to sin again, and eventually fall into that same sin. 

Sin is a power. That’s why we needed Jesus to free us from it. All sin requires the intervention of God, and all sin requires more than just making an intentional decision to not sin. 

Though admirable, our decision to not sin only leads to temporary change and surface-level repentance. 

So how do we come out of this cycle? By entering into the presence of grace, compassion, and mercy. 

Compassion sets the stage for fruitful repentance. The pre-fix “com” means “together” with and “compati” in Latin means “suffer with.”

Compassion says I understand and I have the knowledge required to give you grace because I’ve suffered with you. 

The Greek word for grace is charis. The word means graciousness, benefit, favor, gift, goodwill, thanks, or grace.

Grace says, I’m not condemning you but instead, I’m increasing grace in the midst of your sin and desire for repentance. 

Grace says, I’m going to love the sin right out of you. 

Grace says, slow down, rest, and surrender. 

Grace says you are still loved by the God who created the Universe. 

Grace says He is always enough. 

Grace says I knew this was gonna happen, I’ve seen all of your struggles and flaws, but I’m still going to stay and help you through them. 

Breaking free from the sin cycle requires that we lean into grace, slow down, acknowledge what we’ve done and take the time to reflect on what happened. 

Why did we sin? What was leading up the point of our sin? Why do we keep going back to the same sin? Is there an area of my life where I am not fulfilled and not surrendered to God that is leading me to sin? 

When we begin to slow down and feel those icky feelings, we can enter into fruitful repentance where God helps us to change our mind about that sin. 

He takes away our appetite for that particular sin. 

Once this happens, long term change takes place and freedom happens. 

The second cycle takes the focus off of ourselves and places it on Jesus. 

The second cycle says, rest, it’s already been done. 

Verses to study:

• Hebrews 4:15
• Hebrews 4:16
• Romans 6:1
• 1 John 1:9
• Ephesians 1:6

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