There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
Not Uncommon with man: as I read the first line of this verse, at least, two things are obvious: the first is that nothing happens to me that has not happened to someone else before, and the other is that man is the template or the canvas on which God's display of grace and mercy is shown off. No matter what terrible things happen, the assurance is that they are not odd or strange from God's perspective. Yes, to me, they may be hard and unique, but to God, it is all part of the package of my being human, and being dependent on the grace of God. That grace is the reason why I can read the next part of the verse.
God is faithful: this is the connecting thread in the whole verse: man's weakness and God's strength are laid out clearly. Due to sin, man is prone to temptation, but by the operation of God's grace, help is also accessible by man. It is that unchanging nature of God that gives man an anchor for his soul, so he can look forward to challenges with courage. That statement on God's faithfulness is not subject to any conditions; I can't do anything to reduce who He is, and he will be God, no matter what the world thinks. I can rest assured that this God can take me from where I am to where He wants me to be.
Above what I am able: this must give me confidence. There is a guarantee that nothing that comes my way will be above my endurance. God is like the pharmacist, who prescribes the medication for my growth and development, making sure that what he allows will make me what he wants me to be. God knows my strength, and He is not a God who is interested in my downfall, or who rejoices when I make a mistake. As long as I am dependent on the grace of God, I can look forward to whatever comes, sure and certain that it will all end well. If all will end well, why should I worry about a bad turn?
Way of Escape: this is God's specialty: doing that which seems impossible. There is no problem that God cannot solve, and time is His own measure, not mine. I count in days, months and years, but God counts time as when it lines up with his plan, whenever that is. When God shows up, years of loss can be recovered in one day. When He shows up, crooked paths are made straight. I lay down whatever it is that is a concern to me at the feet of the One whose love is so great that it cannot see me go to waste. I am in the best hands possible: the everlasting arms. God's time of favour is here.
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