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.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Every day I face the temptations of this world, and more recently the fight for righteousness has become more difficult for me. Sin has seemingly made a home for itself in my heart, becoming more comfortable and more evident in my life and, to be honest, I have started to become weary from the fight against this sin. For a while now, I have felt myself giving up on the battle occurring within my heart and giving in to the pleasures of my sin. The laziness, bitterness, jealousy, anger, and pride grew deeper and deeper and my efforts to kill them became half-hearted and therefore futile. I read Scripture with worries I would not finish reading in time to begin the plans for the day, and I settled with rushing through the Lord’s prayer before getting out of bed every morning. Sin was rooting itself within me and, as weeds continue to grow without being rooted out, the sin began to grow (James 1).
But it is at this moment I thank God for His patience and faithfulness toward me. Though temptation still beckons me to give in to the pleasures of sin, God’s call is even louder. God is faithful in reminding me that “man may trouble and distress me, twill but drive me to Thy breast; life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. Oh, tis not in grief to harm me, while Thy love is left to me; Oh, ‘twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee” (Jesus I My Cross Have Taken). He is faithful in pointing me to the Gospel and the sacrifice Christ made for my sake. He reminded me of how beautiful and precious every soul is, and how every person is an opportunity to experience Him more deeply. He restored my sight to see beauty in His creation, to appreciate nature and its natural glorification of Him, to experience people in a new way, and ultimately to see Him in the wonders around me. God is faithful to bring me out of my sin and into His mercy. “As I ran my hell-bound race, indifferent to the cost, He looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross where I beheld God’s love displayed, He suffered in my place. He bore the wrath reserved for me, now all I know is grace. Hallelujah! All I have it Christ!” I was drowning in my sin and, in my helplessness, Christ looked upon me with compassion (Matthew 9:36) and took the sins I deserve punishment for and suffered the punishment in my place. God is mighty to save and He is faithful to save, for that reason alone I am thankful. I do not deserve this great display of grace and mercy. I do not deserve to understand the depth and cost of my sin or to know a Savior who loves me enough to free me from it. I do not understand, and I certainly do not deserve God’s faithfulness.
And now I pray for a heart thankful for the way of escape God continually provides in the midst of temptation, a heart thankful for the Cross in which I escape.
