You Don't Have to Live in "Ups and Downs" Christianity

# You Don't Have to Live in "Ups and Downs" Christianity

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you've probably heard someone say, "The Christian life is full of ups and downs." Maybe you've even said it yourself.

One week you're excited to pray, hungry for God's Word, and passionate about telling people about Jesus. The next week you feel spiritually dry, discouraged, and frustrated with yourself. Then you spend the next month waiting for the next youth conference, revival service, or emotional altar call just to feel close to God again.

But what if that isn't the life Jesus intended for you?

I'm not saying you'll never have difficult days. Every believer faces temptation, opposition, and seasons that require perseverance. But there's a difference between fighting battles and living in constant defeat. Too many Christians have accepted a cycle that Jesus came to break.

The Bible doesn't say that sin should continue ruling over the believer. Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you." That's not wishful thinking—it's a promise.

I learned that lesson in a way I'll never forget.

A College Connect Group I'll Never Forget

When I was in college, I attended a weekly connect group on campus. Every week we'd take whatever had been preached at church and discuss it together. One night, the entire conversation revolved around strongholds.

As soon as the leader introduced the topic, I already had a feeling where things were headed.

He asked everyone to close their eyes for a few minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any strongholds they were dealing with. While everyone else prayed, I sat there quietly.

Not because I was trying to hide something.

Because I understood the power of my words.

After a few minutes, the leader smiled and said, "Alright, let's go around the room. Everybody share the stronghold you've been dealing with."

One by one, people began sharing. One talked about insecurity. Another talked about money becoming his identity. Someone else admitted he constantly wondered if he'd ever be enough for God.

Then they looked at me.

"What about you, Mike?"

I simply said, "I'm good."

They laughed.

"No seriously."

"I'm good."

"You couldn't think of anything?"

I answered, "I don't have any strongholds."

The room became completely quiet.

It wasn't long before the conversation turned into a debate. The general mindset seemed to be that every Christian will always have some area where sin dominates them—that we're basically just struggling our way through life until we get to heaven.

I couldn't agree with that.

Not because I thought I was perfect.

Because I believed what God had already said.

If Romans says sin shall not have dominion over me, then I wasn't going to confess that it did. If Jesus said whom the Son sets free is free indeed, then I wasn't going to speak as though freedom were impossible.

For a brief moment, I thought about giving one of those safe, generic Christian answers that would've made everyone comfortable. I could've said something vague, nodded my head, and the conversation would've moved on.

Then something happened I'll never forget.

It wasn't a thought that crossed my mind.

It wasn't an impression in my spirit.

It was as though someone had walked up behind me, leaned over my shoulder, and whispered directly into my ear.

"Say something, boy... give me a foothold."

It startled me because it was so vivid. To this day, I've only had a couple of moments in my life that felt that tangible.

I knew immediately it wasn't the Holy Spirit.

The enemy wasn't trying to expose hidden sin. He wanted me to agree with bondage. He wanted me to confess over myself something God had not said about me.

So I refused.

I looked back at the group and calmly said, "I don't have any strongholds."

The room went silent again.

The Part Nobody Knew

Here's the ironic part.

Nobody in that room knew I was still battling pornography.

For years it had been one of the biggest struggles of my life. There were nights I'd spend hours trapped in it, wondering if I'd ever really be free. If someone had looked at my life from the outside, they probably would've expected me to be the first person to admit I had a stronghold.

So why didn't I?

Because I refused to make my struggle my identity.

I wasn't pretending temptation didn't exist.

I wasn't claiming I'd arrived.

I wasn't saying God had nothing left to do in my life.

I was refusing to introduce myself by something Jesus was actively delivering me from.

There's a huge difference between admitting you need to grow and agreeing that bondage is simply who you are.

Looking back, I realize something changed in me before my life changed.

Before my habits changed, my confession changed.

Before my experience caught up, my faith did.

I decided that God's Word would have the final say over who I was—not my feelings, not my past, and not the battle I was still fighting.

Eventually the leader paired everyone up to pray for one another. My roommate looked at me and asked, "Do you want me to pray for discernment?"

I said, "Discernment for what?"

"So you'll be able to discern the strongholds in your life."

I smiled and said, "No... I'm good."

I walked away that night asking myself one question:

Why are people fighting so hard for me to identify with bondage?

Your Identity Matters

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying.

Christians grow.

Christians face temptation.

God continues sanctifying us throughout our lives.

If you stumble, repent quickly. Receive God's forgiveness and keep walking with Him.

But don't build your identity around the very thing Jesus came to destroy.

The Holy Spirit wasn't given just to comfort you while you remain defeated. He lives inside you to produce His fruit, transform your character, and empower you to live a holy life.

The day I stopped agreeing with my struggle was the day I started walking toward freedom.

Freedom didn't begin because every temptation instantly disappeared.

Freedom began because I stopped calling myself what Jesus no longer called me.

If you've been living on a spiritual roller coaster, don't settle for believing that's just "how Christianity works." God has called you to grow, to mature, and to walk in increasing victory. Keep your eyes on Christ, keep renewing your mind with His Word, and refuse to let your struggle become your identity.

Jesus didn't save you so you could merely survive until heaven.

He saved you so you could walk in the freedom He purchased for you.