As I sit in my chair, my eyes filled with tears. I audibly tell God “I messed up!” I explain to God I have failed in an area that has been an off-and-on battle my entire life. The feeling or should I say believing the lie of the enemy that I am not enough or have not done enough in God’s kingdom.

In the midst of battling this mental struggle, the enemy is still lying trying to get me to believe I’m the only one who has ever “messed up.” The truth is we all have messed up. Encompassed in our mess up is something I call our “Signature Struggle.”

Let me briefly describe the “Signature Struggle.” It’s the choice, habit or escape we go back to even though we know better. We swear we’ll never do that again---eat the sleeve of cookies, devour the entire bag of chips, snap at the kids or our spouse or spout worthless words about self. When we’re tired, exhausted, or overwhelmed we do all of the above and more.

When I succumb to the “signature struggle” {you noticed I change “signature struggle” from “our” to “the”---that means I’m no longer taking ownership of something that doesn’t belong to me}, the inner voices in my mind {the enemy} fills my head with lies that God is not pleased with what He has ordained me to do. “You should just give up.”

As I sit with tears streaming down my face, listening for a rebuke from The Lord, I’m waiting for direction on what passages of scripture to read about my behavior. Instead, The Holy Spirit lovingly and quietly whispers, “don’t allow the shame to win. Don’t give the enemy that victory.”

The Holy Spirit knows me well. He knows I will recover. But The Holy Spirit wants me to be well aware what the enemy is really after is not to simply make me sin----the cross has already taken care of that------the enemy wants to make me abandon my identity in Christ, to convince me I cannot be both imperfect and loved at the same time. The enemy wants me (you) to believe our worst moments define us.

I learned through the “signature struggle” when the lies of the enemy pop into my head, I picture Jesus literally sitting in the same room with me. The enemy wants us to always embrace shame, guilt and worthlessness instead of grace. Grace is what transforms us, brings us out of hiding and encourages us to keep trying. It’s God’s mercy, the blood Jesus shed, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit that defeats the “signature struggles.” God wants to use the places where we’ve experienced the most shame we felt and the grips of worthlessness to bring Him glory.

If you, like me have recently given in to a “signature struggle”, allow me to put my arms around you and whisper “you are still loved, who you are in Christ hasn’t changed and you have the victory in Jesus Name. God will get the glory in the end!

PEARLStoPONDER: Grace ALWAYS wins in the end! Your identity is secure in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 41:13--For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 43:1--But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Psalm 34:4--I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Ephesians 2:10--For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 8:17--and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

2Cointhinas 5:17--Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.^[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.