Sin – Tannika Nikeya

Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or getting back up after a fall.

Reflection:

Have you ever tried to run for a bus with your hands full, hoping nothing spills or falls out of your bag? I have, and sometimes I would miss the bus altogether. Sometimes it was because I didn’t leave on time, and other times because the bus arrived earlier than expected. But one thing I’ve noticed: the run is always easier when I’m carrying less.

That’s how it is in life and in our faith. When we’re weighed down by stress, fear, distractions, worries—or even sin—those weights slow us down. They drain our motivation. They cloud our focus. They make it hard to obey God, to see clearly, and to walk unashamed.

But thank God for Jesus! When we pause and place our burdens in the hands of the loving Savior, the One who both initiates and perfects our faith, He gives us the strength to persevere. He doesn’t just help us carry the load, He offers us an exchange: His yoke for ours. And His is easy, His burden is light.

If you haven’t yet made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do so today. I can testify that even in life’s storms, He has never left me nor forsaken me. He is always near, ready to help and comfort us.

Scripture:

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now, He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Prayer:

Father God,
Forgive us for holding onto what You’ve asked us to release. Forgive us for the sin that so easily entangles us. Thank You for Your mercy, for Your forgiveness, and for Your unfailing love. Thank You for the grace that enables us to run with endurance the race You’ve set before us. Help us fix our eyes on Jesus, never ashamed to bring Him every concern of our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Accompanying Video:

If I can be honest, this verse and circumstance of Moses have always been frightening to me. How could Moses do all of those great things in the Lord, meet God face to face, have such awesome faith and still not make it into the promised land? His anger and his unholy act towards God cost him the promised land. He could only view it from a distance.

That same day the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own special possession. Then you will die there on the mountain. You will join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died on Mount Hor and joined his ancestors. For both of you betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there.
Deuteronomy 32:48‭-‬51 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.32.48-51.NLT

According to GotQuestions.org, “first, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, “Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?” Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again.” http://www.gotquestions.org/Moses-promised-land.html

And for that Moses was not allowed to go into the promised land. His resentful anger, pride, and disobedience rerouted him from what God had for him.

How many times have we come close to our breakthroughs and promised lands only to view it from a distance. It is like chess. We have to be careful how we move.

The sin and ungodliness, the lack of surrender, the diversionary battles, the fear, the doubt can all hinder us or cost us a move or win on our board of life. It could delay us and cost us some time and impact of those around us. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us, can’t save us, or that God won’t deliver us. We now have Jesus as our mediator and His blood as the seal of our new covenant. However, there are times God will let us face our consequences like any other parent. He will say “no, you can’t go. Not this time.”

God has kept us and covered us from the perils of life. He has loved and still loves us unfailingly. He desires the best and wants the best for us. He desires relationship and joy between Him and us. He wants us to succeed and to fulfill our destinies. He wants us to enter into our promised lands. Don’t let fear, pride, resentment, anger, lack of surrendering to Him, unforgiveness, disobedience and doubt, sin and lack of holiness keep us out of them.

I dont want to view my promised land from a distance. No way! I am going in in Jesus’ name with Him leading the way. But first, forgive me Lord for my pride, disobedience, fear and sin that have kept me from pursuing you and help me to seek ye first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness.