Have you ever said something you instantly regretted? Reacted instead of responded? Ignored that quiet warning in your spirit?

In this episode, we talk about the universal struggle of falling short — and the overwhelming mercy of God that meets us there.

Drawing from Romans 3 and Romans 7, we’re reminded that even the apostle Paul wrestled with doing what he didn’t want to do. Sin is part of our fallen human condition — but shame and distance from God don’t have to be.

This conversation is about repentance, reconciliation, and the loving Father who runs toward us when we turn back to Him.

What We Discuss


Why we instinctively choose wrong at times


Paul’s transparent struggle with sin (Romans 7:14–16)


The difference between conviction and condemnation


Why guilt often pushes us away from God instead of toward Him


The heart of the Father in repentance


This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

Falling Short
By: Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? Or decided to go against that still small voice warning you not to make a specific choice or take a particular action? If you are anything like me, your answer to these questions is a resounding, disappointed yes. Likely, after you spoke when you should have remained silent, or conducted yourself in a manner that failed to represent Kingdom qualities, your instantaneous response was regret. 

Why is it that we so often choose what we shouldn’t? Because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sometimes, it isn’t even a conscious thought-out decision, but rather an instinctive reaction.  We just automatically do or say without thinking. Even the apostle Paul, whom many of us esteem as a father in the faith, transparently shared his own struggle with sin when he said:

“The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (Romans 7:14-16, NLT).

It is so easy to beat ourselves up when we fall short, but as Paul shared, we are only human. This is not an excuse for us to sin, but rather an acknowledgement of our fallen state and God’s unfathomable mercy. The Lord knows we will fail again… and again… and again.  He knew it from the very beginning when it was decided in the Garden that Christ would come and pay the penalty for our sins so that we might be reconciled to the Father. Our Heavenly Father is not asking us to be perfect or to achieve some unattainable standard of Christianity. Instead, He has made a way for us to remain connected to Him despite our sin through the blood of Jesus and the gift of repentance.

When our children make poor choices, what is it that we want most from them? We desire repentance and reconciliation. True, there might be consequences for their actions, but our ultimate goal is to retain the relationship and remind them of our unfailing love for them. It is the same with the Lord. 

“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

Even if we understand this to be true, somehow, when we know we have done wrong, we end up distancing ourselves from the Lord rather than drawing nearer to Him. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden all of those years ago, we want to cover our shame. We want to hide from an all-seeing God. While logically we know this is impossible, we still somehow think, if we remain in the shadows, it will go unnoticed. However, the awareness of our own thoughts or deeds within our hearts can only be silenced for so long. Regret will eat away at our peace until we finally surrender it to the Lord. 

What will we find when we reach this point of surrender? A harsh judge ready to issue punishment? No, we will find our loving Father running towards us with open arms, just as we read in the parable of the prodigal son, ready to embrace us (mud, muck, and all). He will wash away all of our sin, put a fresh robe of righteousness upon our backs, and welcome us into communion with him.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, ESV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Do you still feel the weight of guilt or remorse over a situation when you fell into sin? If so, ask yourself why you are still carrying this regret. Are you distancing yourself from the Lord because you feel unworthy? Or is there another reason you are still struggling with shame? I invite you to take a look at the scripture passages listed in the further reading section. In particular, I encourage you to read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). May you find relief and reconciliation as you return to the Lord through repentance. He is there waiting for you with open arms.

Further Reading:
Luke 15:11-32
John 3:16

Have you ever said something you instantly regretted? Reacted instead of responded? Ignored that quiet warning in your spirit?
In this episode, we talk about the universal struggle of falling short &mdash; and the overwhelming mercy of God that meets us there.
Drawing from Romans 3 and Romans 7, we&rsquo;re reminded that even the apostle Paul wrestled with doing what he didn&rsquo;t want to do. Sin is part of our fallen human condition &mdash; but shame and distance from God don&rsquo;t have to be.
This conversation is about repentance, reconciliation, and the loving Father who runs toward us when we turn back to Him.
<hr data-start="912" data-end="915">
What We Discuss
<ul data-start="939" data-end="1242">
<li data-start="939" data-end="985">
Why we instinctively choose wrong at times
</li>
<li data-start="986" data-end="1043">
Paul&rsquo;s transparent struggle with sin (Romans 7:14&ndash;16)
</li>
<li data-start="1044" data-end="1098">
The difference between conviction and condemnation
</li>
<li data-start="1099" data-end="1164">
Why guilt often pushes us away from God instead of toward Him
</li>
<li data-start="1165" data-end="1206">
The heart of the Father in repentance
</li>
</ul>
 This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Falling Short By: Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading: &ldquo;For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.&rdquo; - Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? Or decided to go against that still small voice warning you not to make a specific choice or take a particular action? If you are anything like me, your answer to these questions is a resounding, disappointed yes. Likely, after you spoke when you should have remained silent, or conducted yourself in a manner that failed to represent Kingdom qualities, your instantaneous response was regret.&nbsp;
Why is it that we so often choose what we shouldn&rsquo;t? Because &ldquo;all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God&rdquo; (Romans 3:23). Sometimes, it isn&rsquo;t even a conscious thought-out decision, but rather an instinctive reaction.&nbsp; We just automatically do or say without thinking. Even the apostle Paul, whom many of us esteem as a father in the faith, transparently shared his own struggle with sin when he said:
&ldquo;The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don&rsquo;t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don&rsquo;t do it. Instead, I do what I hate&rdquo; (Romans 7:14-16, NLT).
It is so easy to beat ourselves up when we fall short, but as Paul shared, we are only human. This is not an excuse for us to sin, but rather an acknowledgement of our fallen state and God&rsquo;s unfathomable mercy. The Lord knows we will fail again&hellip; and again&hellip; and again.&nbsp; He knew it from the very beginning when it was decided in the Garden that Christ would come and pay the penalty for our sins so that we might be reconciled to the Father. Our Heavenly Father is not asking us to be perfect or to achieve some unattainable standard of Christianity. Instead, He has made a way for us to remain connected to Him despite our sin through the blood of Jesus and the gift of repentance.
When our children make poor choices, what is it that we want most from them? We desire repentance and reconciliation. True, there might be consequences for their actions, but our ultimate goal is to retain the relationship and remind them of our unfailing love for them. It is the same with the Lord.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance&rdquo; (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
Even if we understand this to be true, somehow, when we know we have done wrong, we end up distancing ourselves from the Lord rather than drawing nearer to Him. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden all of those years ago, we want to cover our shame. We want to hide from an all-seeing God. While logically we know this is impossible, we still somehow think, if we remain in the shadows, it will go unnoticed. However, the awareness of our own thoughts or deeds within our hearts can only be silenced for so long. Regret will eat away at our peace until we finally surrender it to the Lord.&nbsp;
What will we find when we reach this point of surrender? A harsh judge ready to issue punishment? No, we will find our loving Father running towards us with open arms, just as we read in the parable of the prodigal son, ready to embrace us (mud, muck, and all). He will wash away all of our sin, put a fresh robe of righteousness upon our backs, and welcome us into communion with him.
&ldquo;If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness&rdquo; (1 John 1:9, ESV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Do you still feel the weight of guilt or remorse over a situation when you fell into sin? If so, ask yourself why you are still carrying this regret. Are you distancing yourself from the Lord because you feel unworthy? Or is there another reason you are still struggling with shame? I invite you to take a look at the scripture passages listed in the further reading section. In particular, I encourage you to read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). May you find relief and reconciliation as you return to the Lord through repentance. He is there waiting for you with open arms.
Further Reading: Luke 15:11-32 John 3:16

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Falling Short

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/bcdf08d4-f37f-4ae1-b4f0-b3fe010c5e25/transcript