Jesus Does What I Can’t – July 8, 2026
Read: Romans 7:15-25
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25a (ESV)
Jesus Does What I Can’t
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
At seven years old, on the way home from church, Matt sat in the back seat of the car and proudly announced to his parents that he wasnāt going to sin anymore. Both of his parents chuckled, and his dad told him that he hoped he was right.
Mattās promise was short-lived. After arriving home, he didnāt like what his mom made for lunch and complained about it. Shortly after lunch, he and his brother had to go to timeout for fighting over Legos. Then before bed, he got in trouble again for sneaking cookies after he brushed his teeth.
Matt really did mean it when he told his parents he wasnāt going to sin anymore. But by the end of the day, he had already broken his promise several times!
Have you ever told yourself that you werenāt going to sin anymore only to find yourself still doing wrong things? Maybe you promised not to argue with your brother or sister. Maybe you said you would stop complaining or always obey your parents right away. But sometimes we still do the wrong thing, even when we don’t want to.
That happened to the apostle Paul too. He loved God and wanted to do what was right. But he still struggled with sin. That is why he cried out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).
Notice what Paul does not ask. He doesnāt ask, “How can I try harder?” or “What rules can I follow to fix myself?” He asks, āWho will rescue me?ā Paul knew he needed more than self-control. He needed a Savior. A deliverer.
And then Paul gives the answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25).
Your peace with God does not depend on you finally getting it right. It depends entirely on Jesus who already got it right for you. The harder you try to save yourself, the more tired you become. The more you trust Jesus, the more rest you find.
Jesus does what we can’t. True rest begins when you reach the end of yourself and find Christ waiting there. So, rest in Jesus!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we confess that the good we want to do, we so often fail to do. Forgive us for trying to rely on our own strength. Thank you, that getting to heaven doesn’t depend on what we do for you, but on what you have already done for us. Give us true peace, knowing that we are safe in your loving hands. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- In the Bible verse, Paul asks who will rescue him from his mistakes, and then he says, “Thanks be to God through . . .” Who is the Savior Paul is thanking?
- Have you ever tried really hard to be good (like sharing your toys or listening right away) but still made a mistake? How does it feel to know that Jesus always forgives you and loves you anyway?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Why couldn’t Paul save himself from his sin?
- Paul didn’t ask for a checklist of rules to fix himself but instead asked who would rescue him. Why is looking to a person (Jesus) better than just trying to follow a checklist of rules when we mess up?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- True or False: We are both a sinner and a saint at the same time.
- Sometimes Christians keep struggling with the same sins. How does knowing that Jesus has already forgiven you help you avoid giving up or feeling hopeless?
