That You May Be Able to Endure It
A believer in recovery, looking to the Bible to know who I am in Christ.
That You May Be Able to Endure It
No Temptation
God Is Faithful
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
The Way of Escape
Temptation is not sin. I get tempted. Everyone does. It is part of the fabric of being human, even for believers. And I might think that today's temptation is unique to me. That I need to work my way through it in my own way.
That's my pride. "I got this. No one can help me."
When I try to work it, I end up feeling hopeless. Feeling that others can live a victorious Christian life, but not me.
I've lived year upon year of trying to break through my own temptation and sin, trying to use my own strength, my human power.
But wait... He doesn't let me get tempted beyond my ability. "Yes He does!" I secretly think.
I'm wrong. I know, because when I look at how my giving in to my sin happened, I see patterns of thought and even "smaller" sins that led up to the big blowout. See, I entertained the evil desire before it sprang on me.
Taking Care of a Cobra
It's like taking care of a cobra and thinking it won't bite me as soon as it can.
Entertaining the idea of that sin is not using God's way of escape. That's just me laying the groundwork for my own unrighteousness.
He gives me a way of escape and I push it aside. I think that I can think whatever I want and I'll be fine. That's not taking the way of escape!
What if instead I said, "Lord, help me stay clean. Strip away my denial. Convict me. Give me the strength to confess my weakness. Show me the way out."
What if I run to Jesus? And what if I call a trusted friend to tell him that I'm struggling? That confession, that honesty is often the escape path.
The verse says that God is faithful... That's right!
Lord Jesus, help me cry out to you when I struggle with temptation. Help me love you in my thoughts. Give me the strength to call or text my friends when I'm in trouble. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
© 2022 Arseayli
