Discouragement can feel heavier than the sin itself.
On The Inner Life, Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., and author of Reclaimed: Win the War of Freedom, Self-Mastery, and Holy Purity, addressed the quiet battle many face, especially in struggles with pornography and habitual sin.
“A saint is a sinner who just kept getting back up,” Father Griffin said.
That simple line reframes everything. Holiness is not about never falling. It is about refusing to stay down. “The one who wins a boxing match is just the guy who’s still standing at the end,” he explained. In the spiritual life, we are never fighting alone. Jesus is always ready to lift us up.
Father Griffin noted that discouragement often hides a subtle pride: the belief that we shouldn’t still be struggling. “That’s why we have the grace of God,” he reminded listeners. Christ came to set us free. No sin is our destiny if we keep turning back to Him.
But grace doesn’t replace effort. Father encouraged listeners to develop practical tools: identify patterns, learn from falls, and form a concrete plan. When setbacks happen, respond immediately: get up, go to Confession, and keep moving forward.
With trust in God’s mercy and a determined heart, discouragement loses its power.
Victory in the spiritual life isn’t about perfection. It’s about perseverance.
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