You Can Endure
We all face temptation, day in and day out. Sometimes it’s a small temptation, like whether to have a chocolate glazed donut when you know you should be watching your weight. On other occasions, those temptations can be huge and have eternal consequences if you follow through.
In his first letter to the people of Corinth, Paul points out that the temptations they’re facing everyday are commonplace:
'The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. '
1 Corinthians 10:13
Rather than just telling the Corinthians that “Yeah, there are a lot of temptations out there…”, Paul pointedly reminds them that God provides an out. When temptation strikes — and it will — and it’s something that is more than just that donut calling your name, we’re told to look to God for a way out.
The Holy Spirit is always there to whisper in your ear and change your course of action. He’s the one who tells the married person it’s wrong to “check out” that sexy girl or handsome guy, the one who asks “are you sure you need another glass of wine?”.
Maybe that temptation seems unendurable, a deep craving for something of this world that you know you shouldn’t submit to. Even then, Paul reminds us that God WILL show you a way out. You need to recognize the temptation, turn from it, and ask for God’s help to push it from your mind.
The temptation may strike again, but once you’ve successfully endured it once, you can do it again… with God’s help.