Despair sometimes afflicts Christians who have a deep desire to please God but are sensitive to and feel crushed by their failures. Some even give up, assuming that a life of joy could never be a reality for them. Indeed, the nagging persistence of sin knocking at the door of a person’s heart is almost enough to do him in.
 
There are two laws at work in us. The law of sin and death does us the favor of exposing our sin. But it leaves us sin-conscious rather than righteousness-conscious. The other is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ. In this there is grace, the free gift of God. And in grace lies the remedy for all of our despair. The “no condemnation” status we find through grace is for those of us who are conscious of both our sins and our wonderful Savior.
 
A life of joy and victory belongs to those who do not rely on their own righteousness but on the righteousness that Jesus Christ performed on their behalf. It’s not all about us, but all about Him and what He has done. Know that you have been set free!