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From time to time, each of us must confront a painful but freeing truth: we cannot save ourselves from our sinfulness. That is precisely why Jesus had to die on the cross. Sooner or later, every follower of Christ must whisper—or cry out—these humbling words: “Alone I am powerless.” Only then can His power begin to truly work in us. Find out more about this powerful statement in today’s message.

A few months ago, I had the great privilege of launching a new Addiction Recovery Ministry at my parish. This ministry is open to anyone struggling with addiction—whether it’s alcohol, drugs, lust, gambling, overeating, compulsive shopping, or even excessive cell phone use. But what I want to share today isn’t just for those in recovery. It’s a truth for everyone.

This message isn’t just about addiction, it’s about something deeper that touches every human life: our powerlessness over sin.

For some, that realization hits in the middle of addiction. For others, it comes when we fail again at self-control, lose our temper, give in to pride or lust, or repeat the same destructive habits despite our best intentions. No matter how hard we try, we cannot, by our own strength, free ourselves from sin’s grip.

That’s a hard pill to swallow. Why? Because admitting our weakness may be the most difficult thing we ever do. In most twelve-step recovery programs, the first step begins with these words: “We admitted we were powerless over our addiction.” 

The same principle applies to all of us: we must admit we are powerless over sin. That’s not a sign of defeat—it’s the starting point of grace. It’s the reason Jesus came to save us.

Let’s take a deeper look at three words from that first step: We, Admitted, Powerless.

WE

The word “I” is personal. Only I can take responsibility for my failures. Only I can choose to turn toward God.

But faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. That’s why the twelve steps use the word “we,” not “I.” And it’s why Jesus formed a community of disciples, not a collection of individuals. He sent His followers out two by two. He gave us the Church, not just private spirituality.

We need each other. When we say “We admitted we were powerless,” we’re not just confessing our personal need—we’re opening ourselves to others and to God. Christianity is not a solo mission. It’s a shared journey toward healing, wholeness, and holiness.

ADMITTED

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) But the truth can only set us free if we’re willing to admit it. And what is that truth? That we are not in control. That our strength alone isn’t enough. That we cannot conquer sin through sheer willpower.

Even St. Paul struggled with this. In Romans 7:19 he wrote: “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” Admitting this isn’t failure. It’s honesty. It’s humility. It’s the door through which grace walks in.

As long as we pretend we’ve got it all together, we block the very help we need. But when we admit the truth, we position ourselves for transformation. We finally allow Jesus to be our Savior—not just in name, but in reality.

POWERLESS

Our culture celebrates strength, independence, and self-reliance. The world tells us to fix ourselves, work harder, and try again. But Jesus says something radically different: “Without me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Let that sink in: nothing.

That doesn’t mean we stop trying. It means we stop trying alone. The paradox of faith is that true strength comes not from clenching our fists, but from opening our hands. It comes from surrender.

Jesus didn’t come for the self-sufficient. He came for the broken. He said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.” (Mark 2:17)

We are the sick.
We are the wounded.
We are the ones in need of saving.

The only question is—will we admit it?

Admitting, Surrendering, Trusting

This isn’t just a message for addicts. It’s for anyone who’s ever sinned—which means it’s for all of us.

If you’ve ever fought a temptation you couldn’t beat…
If you’ve ever said, “I’ll never do that again,” only to fall again…
If you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of guilt or shame…

…then this message is for you.

Admit your weakness.
Seek help—from God and from others.
Surrender your pride.
Trust in Christ’s power.

The resurrection of Jesus proves that He has authority over death—and that includes the death we experience through sin. His power is real. But it can only take over when we finally let go.

Final Thought
Alone I am powerless, but with Christ and with community, I am never alone. And in Him, all things are possible.

Heavenly Father, I am sorry for my sins. Despite my best efforts, I keep falling short. Like St. Paul, I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. Help me remember that apart from Jesus, I can do nothing. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, who saves me not when I am strong, but when I am weak. In His name I pray, Amen.

AMDG 

 I always love to hear from you. You can email me by clicking here.

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Brian Pusateri

Brian is a Christian author and speaker. Brian, a lifelong Catholic, felt his life was forever changed when God spoke to his heart while attending an eight day silent Christian retreat in November of 2011. Soon after that retreat Brian founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. With the God inspired message of mercy and unconditional love that was placed on his heart during that retreat, Brian has been impacting others all over the country and around the world with his weekly letters, his talks, and his all day Christian retreats. In June of 2014, Brian’s life was again impacted in a very dramatic way when his eyesight suddenly became permanently impaired. The initial diagnosis was Multiple Scleroses (MS) but in December of 2019 the diagnosis was corrected to MOG antibody disease, a rare neurological disease. This health challenge has only served to draw Brian closer to God and bolster the importance of this timely yet ageless message.

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