Helped!

Helped!

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

There are a number of assurances that are in the verse above, and we start with the first one, which is the fact that temptations will come. I can choose to accept this fact, and also accept the other facts that follow, or I can choose to deny or deflect the fact, or even reject it in Jesus' name, but the fact will not go away. Human life since the fall of man has been full of temptations and trials, and it will remain so until the mortal body gives way to the immortal. It is pointless to pray that this fact will not happen to you; the verse above makes it clear that they would come, but I have the clear assurance of yet another fact, which is that it will always be common to man. The Bible itself assures me that there is nothing new under the sun, which means that whatever comes my way has been tried and tested on someone else. That would give me confidence that I am not alone in whatever experience comes my way. 

The next fact that I must live with is that God is faithful. Now, the end of the story may sometimes make it look like God does not know what He is doing, but let it be clear that my personal opinions or experiences do not in any way change who God is, or what He can do. Closely linked to that fact is yet another one which says that God will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear. Reflect on this: whatever comes my way has been carefully calibrated by God for maximum benefit. Like the Great Physician and Pharmacist that God is, whatever He allows is not designed to destroy me, but to deliver me from fear into confidence in God's ability to perfect all that concern me. It is not the size of the battle that matters here, but the power, wisdom and purpose of the God who allows the battle to come the way it does. However it comes, in the hands of God, it will always achieve God's purpose, if I allow Him work. 

That leads to yet another fact: the God who allows it knows the best way out of it. I note that it does not provide a way to avoid it, but to endure it. The distinction is important; it is no use praying that it will not happen, but the best use of my time is to pray that I will find God's strength and direction needed to endure and to overcome. That is the fact on which to tie it all together: God does not ever plan to destroy you but to build you up. He is not interested in your fall; in fact, His glory is revealed in the victory that His children have over the schemes of the devil. Why would He take delight in my destruction? As long as my heart is fixed on God, He will show up, and supply all that I need for life and Godliness. I have to know the power of freewill. I live or die by the choices I make. God will play His part by guaranteeing supply; I must play my part by making the right demand. Not demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven so ask until your joy is full. God's time of favour is here.