1st Corinthians 10:13

“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.”

I wrote these reflections in my journal one wintery January morning. I was wrestling with why God would allow us to face temptation. Not that God tempts us (James 1:13) but we know that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1) So while God does not tempt us, it seems he, at times, does not take all temptation away from us. Here is my attempt at answering why:

1- The lust that attacks me is not uncommon to man. I’m not the only one. Even Jesus felt temptation, yet did not sin.

2- Jesus is faithful. In all ways. To all his promises. To me. Why would I turn from him? What could be better than calling Him my best friend? Nothing. I need to remember Him during temptation.

3- “He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” Really? It often feels impossible. Perhaps our ability is greater than we imagine? Perhaps we try on our own? Because it seems that the escape comes from Him... as in... we don’t increase in strength and overpower it, but we, because of Him, escape.

4- “He will not let you be tempted...” Not let. God does not tempt... but it seems to be within his power to stop certain temptations that are “too strong”. Which also means, he lets some through. So when you are tempted, it’s not from the hand of God, but the devil. But the Lord has approved it.

5- Why would He do this? There are purposes He must desire to do in us that come through our enduring temptation. Which means, even temptation is an instrument of growth and change in the hand of an almighty God. Your temptation is not just pointless frustration. It’s doing something! Like the coach who tells his players, “Again, another sprint!” He does not enjoy the pain his players are in, but he knows what is being produced by the difficulty is needed.

6- He always provides a way of escape. He provides. But it often feels like there is none. But in reality, it’s my flesh hoping there isn’t one so that I can indulge in sin. This is a problem on my part, not His. I need, through being with God everyday, to kill my flesh so when temptation comes, I see it rightly. If I’m not with God, my flesh will desire it and it’ll be so much harder.

7- “That you may be able to endure it.” Endure. Have you ever endured something pleasant? No. We endure things that are hard. Unpleasant. Difficult. But we can endure knowing He will use it. He let it pass to us. He is faithful to not just let it come, but “he provides” the way of escape. Ask Him next time.

Ask and it will be given.How do you expect to endure and battle temptation when you aren’t with God everyday? It won’t work without Him. He provides the way out. If I’m not with him, there’s no way out. I’m not self sufficient.

8- This seems unfair at first. Why allow temptation God! But we must remember we are little ants, and He is the Empire State Building. He is far above us. He is wise and knows what He is doing. He doesn’t answer to us.

This isn’t unfair. There’s actually much grace here if we stop to think about it. We assume so easily that God owes us anything. He doesn’t have to provide a way of escape. He doesn’t have to be faithful. He doesn’t have to block some temptation from us. We should receive the full onslaught of it, but we don’t. In reality, Jesus is the only human to ever have felt the fullness of sin. Th perfect one. Our best friend. Felt it on his own back. He hung on the cross with the crushing force of guilt and shame because of sin. Why? So that you wouldn’t have to.

Tired of enduring? He endured too. Find rest in Him. Don’t be faithful for the whole week today. Just be faithful today. Tomorrow will come tomorrow. Trust God’s wise hand. Trust God’s design. Trust that God knows what you need and what is best for you. Don’t give up. Your battle with temptation is producing self control, love, patience, a reliance on God, and most importantly, is pushing you into Jesus. There is grace at every step. Even when you fall. He will gently pick you back up again. Dust you off. And point you back to the cross, where the love of God is made manifest.

Trusting His design and that He is for us, not against us,

Josh.