Find me someone who’s never dealt with this, and I’ll show you someone who’s deceiving themselves.
We all struggle with temptation, even though my sins may not be the same as yours. We all fall repeatedly, though some more than others.
Even St. Paul struggled with this, as he wrote to the Corinthians:
A thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. (2 Cor 12:7-9)
This is by no means an excuse to sin, but rather to remind us that God can and does work all things for our greater good when we trust in him.
None of us can do it alone. That’s why we have the Church, the community of believers, as the author of Hebrews points out:
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:24-25)
St. James also reminds us to call on the Church:
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.
My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Notice that James calls upon the individual to pray, and also for the community to pray and to help guide those who fall away.
I know it’s tough, because I still struggle with certain things and confess them often. But the devil only wins if you stop trying to do better. Prayer, especially the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, frequent reception of the Eucharist, accountability partners, memorizing one or two verses from Scripture which deal with the particular sin, frequent confession, and time before the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration are all weapons to help you combat whatever you struggle with.
