There’s a sign in Boulder, Colorado that simply reads “No Shooting”.  It currently has close to 40 bullet holes in it.  That makes me laugh but also realize that what should happen and what actually happens in my life are sadly closer to that sign too many times.  There’s a strange test of character that shows up in ordinary places — sitting behind a slow driver, waiting in a long line, or standing at the gym while someone scrolls their phone instead of finishing their set. It only takes a few minutes for patience to disappear and irritation to take over. One moment you’re calm, maybe even listening to worship music, and the next moment your thoughts sound nothing like the person you want to be. Romans 7 feels painfully accurate there — you know the good you want to do, but your reactions don’t always cooperate.

What if those flashes of frustration aren’t proof you’re failing — but reminders that your old patterns are losing their grip? The tension between your reaction and your deeper desire is where grace begins to reshape you. Paul isn’t glorifying the struggle, but he’s honest about it because honesty leads to dependence. Today, when impatience rises, pause long enough to notice the gap between your first impulse and who you’re becoming. You’re not the seven-minute version of yourself that loses control; you’re someone learning to respond from a new identity instead of an old reflex.