A Message From Our Pastor

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Unforced Error

 (Inspired by Romans 8:1-8)

In sports, particularly tennis, the term "unforced error" describes a mistake made not because of an opponent’s pressure, but because of one’s own lapse—be it in focus, technique, or execution. It's a missed shot, a careless decision, or a failure to follow through—not because someone forced your hand, but because something within gave way. These are the errors that sting the most, because deep down, we know they were avoidable. They came from within us, not from outside forces.

Life is full of these kinds of moments. We make decisions that we later regret—not because someone made us do them, but because we were careless, distracted, selfish, impatient, or simply not walking in step with the Spirit. These are the moral and spiritual equivalents of unforced errors: harsh words spoken in anger, small compromises made in secret, shortcuts taken when we knew better. They're the slip-ups that reveal the deeper battle going on inside us.

Romans 8:1–8 speaks directly to this struggle. It begins with a powerful declaration: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That’s the grace part—the reminder that even our unforced errors don’t disqualify us from God’s love. But Paul goes on to explain why that’s true: because through Christ, we are no longer ruled by the flesh, but by the Spirit. We are no longer bound to follow the patterns that once defined us. The Spirit of God gives us a new mindset, a new power, and a new way to live.

Whereas before we might have been stuck in a cycle of unforced errors—doing what we didn’t want to do, and failing to do what we knew we should—now we are invited to live according to the Spirit. That means we don’t have to be driven by impulses, fears, or distractions. We are not left on our own to “try harder” and clean up our messes. We are empowered by the very presence of God to choose differently.

The key is attention. Not just paying more attention to our behavior, but to our source of strength. Romans 8:5 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Where we set our minds, our attention, our daily focus—that determines the direction of our lives.

So when we find ourselves making those quiet, internal missteps—the ones no one may see but we feel deeply—we can remember this: God's Spirit is not only present, but active. He is able to help us live with clarity, self-control, and grace. We may still stumble, but we are not stuck. And we are certainly not condemned.

Unforced errors will still come, but by walking in the Spirit, we can learn to recognize them more quickly, recover more gracefully, and move forward with greater wisdom and strength.

In His Grace,
Pastor Darryl K. Cox