In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul encourages the people of Corinth to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith so they don’t fail to meet the test. Unsettling words, to say the least.

For most Christians, I think, those words are most unsettling when we’re struggling with a certain area of sin we can’t seem to overcome. It’s during those times that doubt can start to creep in and we can even begin to question our faith.

But, as the following illustration demonstrates, the fact that we’re even struggling to have victory in the first place should confirm that our faith is real.

Imagine that you’re in a boat in the middle of the ocean. You come upon two men floating in the water. There’s no other boat around, so you correctly deduce that they need help. You yell to get their attention and throw out a life preserver to them.

One of the men attempts to reach for the preserver but can’t quite grab hold. He continues to fight against his extreme exhaustion and the hypothermia that’s begun to settle in to reach for the life preserver. Meanwhile, the second man floats lifeless with his face down in the water.

Between the two men, which one would you say has life?

Obviously, it’s the one who’s fighting to get to safety.

When we’re struggling with an area of sin we can’t overcome, we’re a lot like this man. We know what we need to do and victory is in sight, but our flesh keeps holding us back.

It’s a frustrating place to be, but take comfort in this: The very fact that we’re struggling is a sign of life. We haven’t given up or accepted the sin like the man floating face down.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.