Many Christians live in a continual state of low-level depression. They work hard to conquer their bad habits and sins, get depressed when they fail, and then feel like giving up on the whole struggle. They’re not sure it’s even possible to be what Scripture so clearly calls us be: godly.

That’s why Peter’s words are such good news: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:2-3).

Peter is saying that God’s grace and peace has come to us through Jesus, and that gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Everything! The question is, do we really believe that? Do we believe it’s possible to be godly?

A middle-school or high school student might say, “I’m not really sure God’s given me everything I need to deal with the pressure to fit in with the crowd. I feel the need to do things I don’t agree with, just so I don’t get rejected.”

A college student might say, “I’m not really sure God’s given me everything I need to finish school. If I work, I don’t have time to study. If I study, I don’t have money to survive. I need this side-hustle to survive, even if it’s a little shady.”

A young adult might say, “I’m not really sure God’s going to give me the spouse I need. I think I need to lower my standards.”

A young mom might say, “I’m not really sure God has given me all the energy I need to raise my kids, keep up with emails, and cook dinner, and work part-time too, so we can afford diapers and formula. That’s why I keep getting angry at my family.”

A middle-aged man might say, “I’m not really sure God has given me everything I need to compete with the young energetic guys at work. I think I need to fudge my reports so the boss stays happy with me.”

So do we really believe that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness? Because they go together, like chicken katsu and mac salad. Jesus didn’t come to give us a visa stamp in our passport to show the immigration officer one day when we arrive in heaven. He came that we may “have life and have it abundantly” right now. (John 10:10).

And according to Peter, that comes through the presence of the Holy Spirit: “By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire” (2 Peter 1:4).

We have the sovereign, holy, loving God living inside us. Guiding us, empowering us, comforting us. In every moment of life, every aspect of life, every situation in life. We’ve got everything we need to be godly at all times. We just need to depend on him.

The Spirit-Powered Life conference, October 19-20 at Dole Cannery, will teach us how. Don’t miss it!