“Lord give me strength, help me overcome my sin – that sin.”
How many times have you prayed that prayer? Maybe not all the saints who walk The Road of Faith. But, I know I’ve called it out many times in my life. I’ve called out repeatedly this prayer – because God hasn’t removed ‘that’ sin or made me a saint right now.
I’ve often asked why He wouldn’t want to remove the sin(s) when I so desire to be His saint, free of sin. Several priests have counseled in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and mentoring that I should not despair because I am glorifying God in my seeking of His mercy, of my return to beg mercy each time I’ve fallen. But I want to be free, why won’t He help me?
Then, last night God spoke to me in my heart. He said when a child seeks the gift of patience, I give him opportunities to practice patience, when a child seeks the gift of love, I give him opportunities to love. I don’t give the gifts like the wizard to the tin man or lion. I give the gifts through my love of your free will.
Suddenly I knew, though He could, God doesn’t take away the sin because He is building in me, teaching me the gift of fortitude.
The gift of fortitude is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are permanent dispositions that make us receptive to the promptings of God’s Spirit (CCC 1830-1831). It is a supernatural grace that strengthens us to overcome difficulties, temptations, and even fear, especially in living out and defending our faith.
The gift of fortitude helps us reach spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit does this to help the soul overcome weakness. Through this gift, the Lord gives us the strength we often lose due to sin. It helps us to detach from earthly things and pursue great virtues, even when it means facing adversity or being misunderstood.
Fortitude does not act in isolation but is deeply connected with other virtues like prudence, justice, and especially love. It helps us to persevere in good and resist evil, enabling us to live a life aligned with God’s will.
Fortitude, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthens us to resist temptations, persevere through difficulties, and remain steadfast in pursuing a life of virtue, even when faced with ingrained sinful patterns (CCC 1830-1831).
Chronic sin often requires a long and consistent effort to overcome. Fortitude provides the spiritual endurance needed to continue striving against sin, even after setbacks, and to keep choosing what is good and holy. Fortitude empowers us to detach from earthly things and pursue great virtues, which naturally draws us away from sin and towards God.
The gift of fortitude gives us the courage and spiritual endurance to remain faithful to Christ, even in challenging circumstances, and to strive for holiness.
I now see the perseverance of prayer and the desire for sanctity is building in me this gift of the Holy Spirit. Fortitude to become what God created in me. So keep asking God to remove ‘that’ sin or those sins, He is giving you great muscles of fortitude to pursue and desire Him.