Podcast Summary: "The Sin I Can't Stop Doing"
Podcast: Christ With Coffee On Ice
Host: Ally Yost
Date: February 20, 2026
Episode Theme:
An honest, vulnerable conversation about recurring sin in the Christian life, the struggle against shame, and how grace, confession, community, and honesty are keys to freedom and growth.
Main Theme & Purpose
Ally Yost invites listeners into a candid reflection on the struggle believers face with persistent sin. Her aim is to set others free from cycles of self-condemnation and shame, remind them of God's continual mercy, and offer practical ways to deal with sin through vulnerability, scripture, and community.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Vulnerability in Christian Community
[03:09]
- Ally shares she doesn't script her episodes, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide discussions.
- Emphasizes that shame isn’t from God:
"Shame does not come from our heavenly Father. It's not something we're supposed to carry ever." (03:46)
- Stresses the need for transparency in the body of Christ as essential for authentic connection.
"How can we operate as the body of Christ if we're not being transparent with one another?" (04:42)
- Analogy: the human body only functions through constant inner communication; likewise, Christians thrive through honesty.
2. Admitting the Reality of Ongoing Sin
[06:10]
- Ally notes a lack of Christian vulnerability online regarding repeated sin.
- References Paul's struggle in Romans 7:
"Paul says it best...I do the thing that I don't want to do, and the things that I want to do, I don't do." (07:01)
- She confesses personally falling to a recurring sin despite promises to God.
- Highlights that the ongoing struggle with sin is universal among believers and underscores our need for Jesus.
3. Grace, Mercy, and Rejecting Perfectionism
[13:00]
- We’re called to pursue Christlike perfection, but only Jesus is truly perfect.
"Perfection isn't a thing. It's a person. And the one who is perfect is Jesus." (14:47)
- God’s mercies are "new every morning" because we will need them daily.
- God’s mercy is not a crutch or excuse; it should not be abused, but embraced when we genuinely stumble.
4. The Function and Danger of Shame vs. Guilt
[22:47]
- Ally differentiates between guilt (conviction from the Holy Spirit) and shame (a tool of isolation and destruction).
"Shame is like, 'go die in a hole' type energy. Guilt is like, 'I know I shouldn't have done that and I feel really bad.'" (24:13)
- Guilt can indicate a soft, God-attuned heart. Indifference to sin often signals spiritual distance.
5. God’s Design for Boundaries and the Consequences of Sin
[29:55]
- God’s commands are rooted in love, aiming to protect us from harm, not arbitrary restriction.
- Sin leads to emptiness and damages our spiritual connection with God and others.
"When we sin, it actually puts a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father...it affects our spirit and people around us." (31:32)
6. Overcoming Feelings of Unworthiness
[36:18]
- It can feel "prideful" to refuse God’s forgiveness:
"It's pretty prideful for us to make that decision for Jesus when he already made it." (36:53)
- Jesus’ forgiveness is final; our job is to receive it, not disqualify ourselves.
7. God Wants Honesty & Dependence, Not Promises
[41:00]
- God values truth, humility, and dependence over vows and bargains.
- Honest conversations with God (even feeling like a "phoney") are celebrated by Him.
-
"God's not asking you to be perfect. He's asking you to be honest with me. And if you can do that with God, he's obsessed with that." (42:08)
8. Scriptural Exploration of Sin, Grace, and Perfection
[44:35]
- Romans 3:23 – All have sinned; falling short is assumed, not shocking.
- First John 1:8 – Claiming sinlessness is self-deception.
- Matthew 5:48 – "Be perfect": Greek teleios means mature/whole, not flawless.
- Galatians 3:3, Philippians 1:6, Romans 7:15 – Emphasize God’s role in our sanctification, Paul’s personal struggle, and the assurance that the Spirit is working in us.
9. Practical Steps for Breaking the Cycle
[59:00+]
- Confession & Accountability:
- Share struggles with a trusted believer for "light" and accountability.
- Sin’s power thrives in secrecy; bring it into the open for hope and help.
- Analyze Triggers:
- Ask, “What leads up to this? What environments or habits fuel the temptation?”
- Identify underlying lies (“This will comfort me...”) and replace with truth (“God satisfies deeper than this does.”).
- Spirit-led Action:
- Replace effort-based striving with grace-based walking.
- Worship, pray aloud, read Scripture before temptation comes.
- Don’t negotiate with temptation; "cut it off" at the root (Matthew 5:29-30).
- Lean into Grace After Failure:
- Romans 8:1 – "There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus."
- Shame keeps sin alive; grace starves it. Run to God immediately after failure.
10. Final Encouragement & Prayer
[01:08:00+]
- No one is “too far gone” for grace; Jesus’s blood covers even our repeated failings.
- Run toward God, not away, in both failure and success:
"Don't run away from God. Literally run towards Him." (01:09:32)
- Ally closes with a prayer for the listeners, covering those who are struggling with repeated sin, asking God for love, mercy, freedom, and unity with His Spirit.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I would hate to think that people would ever compare themselves to a version of myself that wasn’t authentically being like, hey, by the way, I am not the standard. Jesus is the standard.” (10:44)
- “Perfection isn’t a thing. It’s a person. The one who is perfect is Jesus, the only thing that is perfect is God himself...When scripture says, ‘be perfect,’ it means pursue Jesus.” (14:47)
- “If I can never give Jesus what He deserves...what’s the point? But it’s the privilege — it’s the freedom through Christ that we get to pursue His holiness knowing we’ll fall short sometimes – but we have His mercy.” (15:50)
- “Shame is also very isolating...Shame is like, go die in a hole type energy. Guilt is like, I know I shouldn’t have done that and I feel really bad.” (24:13)
- “If Paul—the Apostle Paul—felt this tension, then your struggle isn’t failure. It’s actually evidence the Spirit is at work.” (54:39)
- “God doesn’t ask you to be perfect. He asks you to be honest, dependent, and willing to keep walking towards him, even when you stumble.” (55:30)
- “Sin is easiest to stop at the thought, at the scroll, at the fantasy, at the second glance. Once you’re already halfway in, you’re not fighting sin, you’re wrestling desire.” (01:04:00)
- “Romans 8:1 – ‘There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus’ – shame keeps sin alive, but grace actually starves it.” (01:06:39)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:09 — Opening vulnerability; intent for the episode
- 04:42 — The necessity of honesty in the body of Christ
- 07:01 — Paul’s struggle with doing what he hates (Romans 7)
- 13:00 — The difference between pursuing perfection and being perfect
- 14:47 — Perfection is a person, not an achievement
- 22:47 — Shame vs. guilt; conviction from the Holy Spirit
- 29:55 — God’s loving purpose for boundaries
- 36:18 — Receiving Jesus’s forgiveness, not refusing grace
- 41:00 — God wants honesty & dependence, not mere promises
- 44:35 — Scripture breakdown: Sin, grace, and growth
- 54:39 — Paul as a model of honest struggle
- 59:00 — Practical steps: confession, accountability, identifying triggers
- 01:06:39 — Romans 8:1 and the power of grace after failure
- 01:09:32 — Closing encouragement and prayer
Conclusion
Ally Yost’s episode is a deeply relatable, grace-filled reminder: Christians are not called to unbroken perfection, but to honest pursuit of Jesus amidst struggle with sin. Through transparency, confession, and community, and by relying on grace—not self-will—we experience real transformation. Above all, Ally urges listeners: Do not run from God in failure; run toward Him. Grace is waiting.
Host’s Parting Words:
"Don’t run away from God. Literally run towards Him...He loves you. He’s never going to leave you. And He’s faithful." (01:09:32)