“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
During a time of morning devotions, while praying and “discussing” with God how I didn’t understand so many things that happen, this scripture was brought to my mind. I wondered what in the world it had to do with what I was praying about. Then, all of a sudden, I felt as if a new revelation had come to me about what this scripture meant . Always before, when I have read it I thought only about the temptations of the flesh. You know, “real sins” — the ones preachers preach about and parents warn their children to avoid: lust, pride, idolatry, envy, and jealousy. These are things that are obvious to us as we go through the Scripture and read about how wrong they are. These are the things everybody can see acted out in our lives. They eventually show up whether we want them to or not.
I realize that I am not tempted to do all those obvious things. I didn’t grow up in a family where anyone smoked, or drank, or did anything else I can name. I never heard my parents say a curse word. We weren’t even allowed to call anyone “stupid.” That was like a bad word to my father. So, these things don’t often even enter my realm of thinking. But, what about temptations of the spirit and of the mind? Some strongholds can take root in our hearts and find their way deep into our spirits — such as being tempted with bitterness over things not being fair, being hurt at being done wrong, or seeing others done wrong.
This can lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and anger. How could things happen the way they do sometimes?
God knew we would be tempted from time to time to do wrong. But, He also knew we would be tempted to think wrong and to feel wrong about too many situations and circumstances. He is never surprised by that. I have been in those places way too often, and it is hard to find my way out. But instead of feeling that I have the right to be there, or feeling justified in being there, I choose to remember that Jesus already took that upon Himself for me. So, I can allow that to be my place of peace and rest from the worry of it all. What a relief!
