Hardships Don’t Give a Free Pass for Sin

We often need God’s protection from wicked people, but do we ever consider the protection we need from our own sinful habits? Just because we experience struggles does not mean that we can justify sin.

Psalm 141:1-10

141 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
    and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

We often need God’s protection from wicked people, but do we ever consider the protection we need from our own sinful habits?

Dependent (141:1-2)

  • We must address our concerns by talking to God more than talking to ourselves.
  • Prayer is the ability to talk to the most important Being in the universe about the most important things in our lives.

Determined (141:3-5)

  • Just because we experience struggles does not mean that we can justify sin.
  • It is better for a godly person to rebuke me than an ungodly person to reward me.

Defended (141:6-10)

  • When you try to take retaliation into your own hands, you seek to remove judgment from God’s hands.
  • Following God’s direction will cause your enemies to fall into the trap which they set for you.

Hardships will cause you to either draw close to God or give in to sin.