The Grace of Repentance When We Fall
- By Rooted Africa (@kateyakli)
Jonathan Edwards didn’t pretend perfection was easy. After setting God’s glory as the ultimate aim (Resolution 1) and committing to fresh ways of pursuing it (Resolution 2), he faced a realistic truth: we all stumble. At nineteen, he knew his own heart could grow dull and neglect what he had vowed. So he planned ahead for failure—not to excuse it, but to respond rightly.
Resolution 3
Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.In simple terms: Whenever he slipped, grew spiritually numb, or failed to live out any resolution, Edwards resolved to repent fully of everything he could recall—as soon as he came to his senses and recognised it.
This is humble realism. Edwards expected setbacks: times when motivation faded, sin crept in, or diligence slipped. Instead of despair or denial, he chose repentance. The phrase “when I come to myself again” echoes the prodigal son (Luke 15:17)—that moment of awakening when we see clearly and turn back to God.Why This Matters TodaySpiritual dullness happens to everyone. Distractions, weariness, or hidden sin can make our hearts feel cold toward God. Edwards shows us the path forward isn’t self-condemnation or giving up—it’s honest repentance. Quick, thorough turning back to God keeps the journey alive.
This resolution protects against two dangers:
What does this stir in you? Share in the comments or on X (
Resolution 3
Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.In simple terms: Whenever he slipped, grew spiritually numb, or failed to live out any resolution, Edwards resolved to repent fully of everything he could recall—as soon as he came to his senses and recognised it.
This is humble realism. Edwards expected setbacks: times when motivation faded, sin crept in, or diligence slipped. Instead of despair or denial, he chose repentance. The phrase “when I come to myself again” echoes the prodigal son (Luke 15:17)—that moment of awakening when we see clearly and turn back to God.Why This Matters TodaySpiritual dullness happens to everyone. Distractions, weariness, or hidden sin can make our hearts feel cold toward God. Edwards shows us the path forward isn’t self-condemnation or giving up—it’s honest repentance. Quick, thorough turning back to God keeps the journey alive.
This resolution protects against two dangers:
- Ignoring failure and drifting further.
- Being crushed by guilt without returning to grace.
- Recognise the signs — Notice when devotion feels mechanical, sin loses its sting, or resolutions fade.
- Repent promptly — When awareness returns, confess specific failures (not vague guilt) and seek forgiveness through Christ.
- Recall what you can — Edwards aimed to remember “all I can.” Honest self-examination helps.
- Trust grace — Repentance isn’t earning restoration; it’s receiving what Christ already secured.
- When have you felt spiritually dull lately? What triggered it?
- What would prompt “coming to yourself again” in that area?
- How can quick repentance become a habit rather than a rare event?
What does this stir in you? Share in the comments or on X (
@kateyakli
). Rooted Africa on Facebook. We continue next with Resolution 4. This is Day 3 in our daily series on Jonathan Edwards' 70 Resolutions.References for Further Reading- Full text of Edwards' Resolutions: https://www.jonathan-edwards.org/Resolutions.html
- "The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards" (Desiring God): https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards
- Ligonier Ministries overview: https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/resolutions-jonathan-edwards
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