"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
2 Peter 2:21-22
A couple verses before this it explains that even though we sometimes think that sinning is exercising our liberty -- becoming more free by throwing off the shackles of God I suppose -- in truth, we are becoming slaves to sin/corruption. God can help us to free ourselves, of course, but if we keep going back, it keeps getting harder to pull ourselves out of that bondage, and I think there is a lot more self-condemnation as well, because it is hard to repent sincerely when we keep choosing otherwise.
That doesn't make it impossible, of course, but if we're going round and round and unable to escape the pattern, sometimes we need some help. God can help, of course, but talking to our bishop, a counselor, or getting specific help with an obsession or addiction is often necessary... and not a bad thing at all. We don't want to end up like Lot's wife, who turned around to go back even though she *knew* that it would destroy her, but we need outside help to get us out of that mindset sometimes, that we NEED something more than we need God... which is never true.
Let's work with God to escape the bondage of sin. He will help us, teach us, and strengthen us as we work with him and other support systems to learn to overcome ourselves and become clean and free. He is the source of true liberty... the power to be so much more than we are now, and to find peace and joy.
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