When Pulling Up Your Boot Straps Isn’t Enough

How do you overcome what seems impossible?

I know people who simply cannot seem to overcome difficult things in life. I know people who “think” they understand Scripture, but really don’t. And I know people constantly searching for peace, contentment, security, significance, and a full life, but never seem to find it.

The truth is, we all want those things. We want clarity. We want peace. We want to understand why we’re here, what is right, and how to overcome the things that keep defeating us.

HOW TO OVERCOME

So how do we get there? This may sound a little churchy, but the answer is the Holy Spirit. I know my image is a little cheesy, but I do visualize Him as a real being.

Here’s the deal, when we confess our sins, turn to Christ, and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, God gives us His Spirit. Scripture says He actually dwells within us.

Paul writes, “But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit searches out all things, even the deep secrets of God… No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10–11 NCV)

HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS

There are things about God that human intelligence simply cannot reach. God has to reveal Himself to us, and He does that through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit isn’t simply God’s energy, influence, or a good feeling. He is God. He teaches, guides, comforts, convicts, and changes us.

I don’t know what the Holy Spirit looks like, but He is a “He,” not an “it.” Personally, I visualize Him as a real being right there beside me, kind of like in my image today, or more accurately, living inside of me. I know, that sounds weird. Until you experience the work of the Holy Spirit, it may very well sound like psycho-babble.

But Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you everything and will cause you to remember all that I told you.” (John 14:26 NCV)

The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s truth. You can know Bible stories, quote verses, sit in church for years, and think you understand. But the Spirit opens our understanding so we begin to see what God is actually saying and why it matters.

SIN, DESIRES, AND INTERNAL URGES

The Holy Spirit also convicts us of sin. Sometimes something deep inside says, This isn’t right. Stop. Apologize. Make this right. That conviction can be the Spirit using God’s truth to show us what needs to change.

He also changes our desires. Are you still giving in to all the same old desires?

Paul says, “God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13 NCV)

I love that verse because God does two things: He gives us the desire to do what is right, and He gives us the ability to do it.

To be very honest, I’m a completely different person now, not simply through my own efforts, but through the work of the Holy Spirit.

You may suddenly want to forgive when you’d rather stay angry. You feel compassion when it would be easier to walk away. You want to pray, read Scripture, confess something, give generously, encourage somebody, or repair a relationship.

Those desires aren’t simply because you and I are naturally wonderful people. God is working in us.

OVERCOMING DIFFICULT THINGS

And this is where pulling up your boot straps sometimes just isn’t enough.

There are fears, resentments, habits, addictions, temptations, hurts, and patterns that determination alone cannot defeat. You can promise yourself a hundred times, I’m never doing that again, and find yourself right back there.

The Holy Spirit gives us strength to do what we cannot seem to do ourselves. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

Galatians says the Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23 NCV)

Notice what Paul calls these things: the fruit of the Spirit. Not the fruit of tremendous willpower. Not the fruit of trying harder. It is the fruit of the Spirit working in you. So where do you lack self-control or some other fruit?

Knowing this doesn’t mean we do nothing. We still make choices, discipline ourselves, obey, forgive, resist temptation, repent, and get back up when we fail.

But Christianity isn’t primarily you trying harder for God. It is God working in you.

ARE YOU THE SAME PERSON, BUT JUST “CONFESS” CHRIST?

Maybe this is why we spend so much of life chasing peace, contentment, security, significance, and fulfillment. We think more money, another accomplishment, a better relationship, retirement, travel, recognition, or success will finally do it.

Those things may be good, but they were never designed to carry the weight of our soul.

Peace, security, significance, and a full life ultimately come from knowing God.

So here’s a tough question: If the Holy Spirit lives in me, am I changing? Are you really a different person?

Not perfect. Not sinless. Not without failures. But changing, and different.

There should eventually be evidence that something, or more accurately, Someone, is working inside of you.

Have you changed? If not, maybe—just maybe, you haven’t truly submitted your life to Christ as Lord and Savior yet.

LISTEN TO THE URGES, FEELINGS, AND VOICES IN YOUR HEAD

I’m not saying every thought, feeling, or voice in your head is the Holy Spirit. It isn’t. Our emotions and desires can mislead us. What we sense must agree with God’s Word.

But when Scripture suddenly becomes clear, when you recognize something that needs to change, or when you genuinely desire to forgive, confess, give, encourage, pray, or obey, pay attention.

The Holy Spirit may be working in you.

Sometimes you do need to pull up your boot straps. Get up. Work harder. Be disciplined. Stop making excuses and try again. But even on those normal days, the Holy Spirit is helping you.

And eventually, every one of us encounters something where our own strength simply isn’t enough.

Maybe one of the best prayers we can pray each morning is:

“Holy Spirit, help me understand what is true. Show me what needs to change in me. Give me the desire and strength to obey God today. Help me with this struggle.”

Because sometimes pulling up your boot straps isn’t enough. God never intended for it to be.

LORD, help me always listen to the Holy Spirit. And for those who don’t believe, Holy Spirit, please reveal Yourself to them as they seek You and ask for Your help. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. ♥️