Introduction

Being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit does not shield believers from temptation. Any Christian should always be vigilant, as our loyalty to God and the strength of our faith and character will be tested in diverse ways.

However, temptation, which comes in the form of tests, trials, and challenges, is not always evil but rather a sign of growth and reveals God’s power within us. God has empowered us to endure and overcome and provided a way of escape. His Word in 1 Corinthians 10:13 reassures us. “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.” (NKJV)

Are you being tempted or facing challenges, and feeling confused and overwhelmed? 1 Corinthians 10:13 discusses truths about temptations and challenges, and how you can face them as a believer and win.

You are not alone

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.”

This statement is profound because it offers consolation to anyone passing through temptation or a trying time and also shows the power of community in overcoming challenges.

People in all walks of life believe one truth: “There’s no new thing under the sun.” The wisest man in the Bible, Solomon, affirms it in Ecclesiastes 1:9. Even science and daily human experiences confirm it. However, pain, worry, and negative experiences often feel personal and new when you are going through challenges. That is because we believe no one understands how we feel or what we are experiencing except ourselves. So, we shield ourselves from loved ones and the world and suffer in silence.

We become resentful toward God because we feel temptations and challenges are a punishment or a curse from God. But the truth is that nothing is new under the sun. Whatever you’re going through, no matter how heavy or painful it’s not unique to you. Others have walked this path, endured it, and overcome it. Even now, many are navigating the same struggle. You are not alone.

For example, the Bible is a collection of stories about people who went through health, financial, marital, mental, and spiritual challenges and overcame them. Although some people did not win, their experiences are lessons we can learn from.

This is not to invalidate or trivialize what you are experiencing in any way, but to let you know that you are not alone. Therefore, your focus should shift from the pain to the victories others have achieved. Let your hope be renewed by the assurance that you, too, can overcome whatever you are going through because others have overcome it. Although some have failed, try learning from their mistakes and grow with wisdom.

When you discover and accept that many people are going through that marital, financial, or health crisis, you will see God as your help and not your enemy. God is not punishing you; neither is the world against you. Temptations are a normal recipe of life that everyone will face. That is what makes the journey worthwhile. Winning a trophy in a game without going through the rigors of training and beating opponents cancels the sense of fulfilment from it. It’s the story behind the victory that makes a trophy valuable and not a mere object.

Everyone who genuinely attains a great height must conquer trials and temptations. Therefore, count yourself lucky and not cursed when pressed because you are on the right path.

Another vital point to note when life frowns at you is to never embrace isolation. Instead, seek help, especially from those who have won the same battle you are fighting. The Bible talks about the power of community when one feels burdened. “Carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Speaking up and seeking help gives you hope, a fresh perspective, a solution, and ultimately reduces your burden.

God’s faithfulness

“…but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.”

God knows everything. He knows your experiences and your pain. In some cases, He permits temptation to come our way. However, He never leaves us stranded. He provides strength and guidance, even in life’s storms and fires. He is always faithful.

Job’s story exemplifies the reality that God permits temptation in our lives to transform us and prepare us for our next level. At first, Job’s suffering felt unfair. He was an upright man but lost everything within the twinkle of an eye. However, his bitter experience did not kill him or break his faith. Instead, it ushered him into a deeper relationship with God and unlocked blessings better than what he ever had (Job 42:12).

God knows you more than you know yourself. He knows what you can become. He knows there are treasures buried in you. However, comfort might hinder such growth and expression. So, in His faithfulness, He allows temptation to wake you up to the reality of your potential. Just as gold is refined by fire, He always allows you to be tested so you can be purified. That is why we must be careful as believers about what we attribute to the devil. Not everything comes from the devil or is evil. For example, God might allow your boss to sack you because you are long overdue to start your company and become an employer. David would never have become king if he had not killed Goliath, and Joseph would never have become the Prime Minister of Egypt if he had not been sold into slavery.

Therefore, our perspective must change about how we see and interpret challenging times. We must ask God to open our eyes of understanding so that we may see and know the hidden treasures in the difficult situation we are in. We must approach every challenge with thanksgiving and trust that a new and better version of ourselves is about to be born. Challenges are like a pregnant woman in labor, travailing. At first, the pain seems unbearable and like a punishment, but the moment she hears the cry of her baby, all pain evaporates and is replaced with great joy. Therefore, God’s faithfulness is expressed, even in challenges.

Another truth to note about God’s faithfulness in temptation is that He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, resist, or overcome. God has given you all that is required to overcome every challenge you face. Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In other words, Jesus Christ has won every battle on the cross, so you can work in victory (John 19:30). How do you access this victory? Through His Holy Spirit that dwells in you.

You do not need to struggle to overcome or resist temptations. All you need to do is tap into the power of God deposited in you through His Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” Therefore, you are able to overcome every situation you face because you are not using your strength or wisdom, but relying on the supernatural power of God and His infinite wisdom deposited into you by His Spirit. Therefore, you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

There’s a way of escape

“…but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

God has already made a way out for you, even before temptation came. Psalm 46:1 says God is our ever-present help in trouble. If you consider your life’s journey and how you have surmounted difficulties in the past, you will agree that God always makes a way where there seems to be no way. If he has delivered you in the past, He can do it again.

You are not just escaping or surviving temptations like a victim but coming out with a reward that will make you far better than how you used to be. The Bible says that everything works together for your good (Romans 8:28).

The three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3:8-25 were bound and thrown into a burning furnace because of their outspoken allegiance to God. Based on the reality on the ground, they were written off because there was no way they could survive such a situation. However, God showed up for them inside the fire, and they came out without a strand of hair burned.  You might feel like your back is against the wall, and it is over. But God will show up for you in the nick of time and save you.