The Four Origins of Our Struggles

When I was younger, I thought sin* was simple.

Why do I do the things I wish I didn’t? Why do I make choices that clearly don’t align with who I want to be?

As I’ve aged, it’s become apparent to me that our struggles with sin*, selfish desires*, and unwise decisions usually originate from at least four sources:

1. Our sin* nature

2. Our insecurities

3. The enemy is tempting us

4. The world’s bent toward sin

Each of these influences comes at us from a different angle. But ultimately, they all converge in the same place: our minds. That’s why Dallas Willard emphasized that the spiritual battle begins in the mind and the will. These four forces may originate in different places, but at some point, they all become conscious thoughts, which means we can choose what to do with them.

This is why Paul writes, “Take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:3–6). No matter where the temptation comes from, it must pass through the gate of our thoughts. That’s the moment of opportunity—and responsibility.

1. Our Sin Nature

We all have a sin nature. But I’ve found that this nature can be diminished over time through the sanctification process of walking deeply with Christ.

Paul speaks to this tension often, especially in Romans 8: the flesh vs. the Spirit. These two forces battle within us. But as we mature in our relationship with Christ, the Spirit gains strength, and the flesh begins to lose its grip. We never lose the capacity for sin entirely, but its power is greatly weakened.

This is why people who live with deep, inner submission to Christ tend to demonstrate more Christlike behavior outwardly. The pull of sin loses its appeal.

2. Insecurities

This one is closely related but distinct. Insecurities often stem from emotional wounds—needs that weren’t met in our early years, shaped by our family, community, or culture of origin.

Left unresolved, these wounds fuel self-serving behaviors. They become internal drivers for thoughts and choices we wish we could avoid.

The most effective way to deal with the emotional desires that flow from insecurity is to heal the original wound. That takes time. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a necessary process. Until then, the emotional needs will continue to show up in our thoughts and behavior.

3. The Enemy

There’s also a spiritual enemy, one who can plant thoughts directly in our minds. These don’t arise from insecurity or trauma. They often come out of nowhere and are clearly contrary to God’s design.

Jesus dealt with this, too. In Matthew 4:1-11, He was tempted directly by the enemy. He also prayed that we would be protected from this evil one in John 17:15.

We need to be aware: not all thoughts are our own. Some are seeded by an enemy who seeks to destroy.

4. The World

The fourth source is the world and its many influences. Jesus prayed that we would be in the world but not of it (John 17). But that’s no small task. The world’s values are so pervasive that it’s hard to see where they’ve crept in.

John identifies three ways the world pulls at us in 1 John 2:15–17:

1. Passions (lust of the flesh)

2. Possessions (lust of the eyes)

3. Pride (pride of life)

Each of us is more susceptible to one or two of these. But just like our sin nature, the world’s grip begins to weaken as we grow in intimacy with Christ. Its power fades—not all at once, but over time.

All Four Converge in the Mind

While the origin of our sin or temptation may vary, they all meet in the same place: our mind. And that’s where we get to choose.

This is the battleground of the will.

I used to label certain emotional desires as “temptations.” But I’ve started to realize they were simply thoughts that hadn’t yet been taken captive. Those thoughts—rooted in insecurity or whispered by the enemy—begin as subtle ideas. If left unchecked, they grow into emotional desires and eventually temptations.

The key moment is when they surface. That’s when we can stop them. That’s when we take them captive. That’s when the will steps in.

We may not always know where a thought or desire came from—was it the flesh? Insecurity? The world? The enemy?

But the moment we recognize it as inconsistent with God’s design, we can take action. We can take that thought captive. We can submit it to Christ.

That’s how transformation begins: not by waiting for the struggle to go away, but by choosing, again and again, to be renewed in our minds.

A Note on Language

*Some individuals who do not agree with how Scripture labels that which is not consistent with the design of God as “sin”, may read this post by simply substituting the word “unhealthy” or “selfish” and find it helpful. The New Testament addresses “sin” or “sinful” nature as that which is opposed to God’s desires, design, or intent for us. Surely, they are “unhealthy” in the ultimate sense, but they are more than that, they are “deadly” causing us to lose connection with our true source of connection to ultimate life, so sin brings death or separation in all cases.

Willard’s Wisdom

**Dallas Willard did not attribute sin and many of our struggles as Christians exclusively to the mind.  According to Willard, the “slide into pervasive soul corruption” begins with the heart (or will) deflecting the mind from God and trusting in God. This means that while sin and struggle are rooted in the will or heart, the mind is deeply involved, especially as it is turned away from God. Scripture References