WHEN A MARSHMALLOW PEEP DEFEATED MY WILLPOWER: What Lent Taught Me About Grace

Easter Sunday, 1992, I mourned the death of my willpower.

I couldn't even make it to the end of Lent.

It was those darn marshmallow peeps.

Easter Eve, those little chicks began to taunt me from my daughter's basket, glistening with an extra coat of temptation and artificially colored sugar.

Before I could shout, "Get behind me, Satan!" I shoved every single peep into my mouth.

Later, I fluffed the green grass to cover the holes, feeling empty and ashamed.

Easter morning, I woke up with a sugar hangover and the horrifying thought that I'd failed the Lord.

Had I failed Jesus? Was I even a real Christian if I couldn't control myself?

Struggles don't mean we're bad Christians. Struggles mean we're human.

The apostle Paul didn't minimize the human vs holy dilemma in his letter to the Romans:

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (7:24)

Paul knew that same desperate feeling.

We try. We fail. We try. We fail.

After years of this, it feels like our faith dies a little more each time.

So Paul was quick to direct us to the Answer to every one of our struggles:

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v25)

What's true for our salvation is also true for our sanctification.

Every human needs a Savior, and honey, it's not you.

It's Him. It's all about Him.

You can trust the grace of God even when you fall short, even as you're wiping the marshmallow off your lips.

Why? Because God doesn't weigh holiness in ounces of chocolate or measure eternity on the hours spent off social media.

Your holiness doesn't come through willpower.

Holiness comes through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Every fast, every struggle, even our failures, teach us that Jesus is the only answer.

Human effort only takes you so far. 

Christ's sacrifice carries you into eternity.

Where does this leave you and me? With Jesus. Always with Jesus.

We weren't made for the grave. We were born for a resurrection.

So, cling to His cross and trust Jesus to pull you out of every hole you find yourself in.

Besides, marshmallow peeps are overrated.

Nothing's sweeter than holding His righteous right hand.