Mike Focht 8/22/2025
Defensiveness is one danger along the path of spiritual growth. On the other side of the coin is despondency. Some people see their growth and begin to worship it, while others see their growth and despair when anything seems to stain it. Instead of hiding sins that emerge along the path of sanctification, they cower before them like Goliath—their own personal giant that cannot be defeated.
Outwardly, this may look like godly sorrow, but its true nature is soon evident because godly sorrow produces good fruit. In contrast, sinful discouragement produces doubts, justifications, and desertion of the narrow path. Despondency in growth is not godliness but wounded pride. It is a person who secretly loves self-perfection but knows they do not have the power to create it in themselves and grows weary of trusting in the cleansing work of the blood of Christ.
The sting of sin becomes worse than the original act of sin. Then Satan whispers lies like: You will never be what God wants you to be, so why even try? You will never be perfect or good enough, so why keep trying to obey Jesus’ commands? You already failed; why get up again? You already went so far off the path; just keep going.
Allow me to say something very clearly. In this life, God is not looking for perfection. He is looking for progress. God only has one perfect Son, and it’s not you or me. He already knows that. We already know that. Satan already knows that. When the Holy Spirit shows us our sins in the light of truth, they do not keep us from following after Jesus or communing with Him. Jesus Christ has already sealed the path to communion with His blood so imperfect men and women can progress in fellowship with God.
Listen to the words of an imperfect man who walked with Jesus but grew in fellowship and likeness with Him. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. That is a beautiful promise! That simple, profound, and divine truth is meant to encourage all despondent sinners to press into the light because in the light, our sins may be manifest, but so also is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Our sins will only keep us from spiritual growth and fellowship when we embrace, hide, justify, ignore, or cower before them.
Jesus Christ didn’t pick His original disciples because they were perfect. He chose them to walk in the light of His presence so that they could be conformed, transformed, and have fellowship with Him. He didn’t expect perfection, but He did expect them to be making progress as they walked with Him. And the good in Jesus patiently, directly, truthfully, and lovingly overcame the evil in them.
Jesus calls us the same way. He calls us as unfinished sinners. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to make progress as we walk with Him. Those early disciples accepted Jesus’ correction and rebukes and allowed Him to shape their thoughts, hopes, purposes, and hearts. They didn’t become despondent in themselves because all their hopes were safe in Christ Jesus and the power of His good to deal with the evil in them.