Struggling With Sin: Where Is God When We Fall Into Temptation?
Temptation. All of us want to avoid temptation. We pray to God to help us stay away from it. Other times, we pray to Him that we won't be tempted by anything. The thing is, temptation will always be there for as long as our heart remains unchanged:
"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." (James 1:14)
Still, many, if not all of us ask where God is when temptations come. We ask why doesn't He help us overcome. We ask why we didn't receive the strength to resist when we fall.
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Truth is, the answer is very obvious but we prefer to look at the wrong direction. Let me explain.
God's power vs. our choices
Friends, the Bible is perfectly clear that when we face temptation God is there to see us make the right choice. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us,
"No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted above what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it."
He's actually there, giving us a way of escape. He's there, giving us an open door or window that will allow us to run from temptation and sin and remain unscathed.
Not only that, He also gives us the power to resist giving in to temptation. Romans 5:20 tells us,
"Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more..."
This grace is not something that's hard to understand. Titus 2:11-12 tells us that it simply allows us to choose what is pleasing to God:
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
The grace that God supplies, the grace that allows us to turn from sin, is very powerful. God promises that the grace He gives will be enough to empower us to walk righteously in Him. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 He promises to us,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
So why do we fall?
Now that we've established that God empowers us to make the right choice to escape sin and temptation, why do we fall? Why do we commit sin? Why do we make the wrong choice?
Simple. The answer is because we choose to. We choose to give in to our desires. We choose to say yes to sin. We choose to turn away from the way of escape that God gave. We choose to ignore the grace that empowers us to say no to ungodliness. We choose our weakness rather that God's strength.
Take responsibility
Friends, God is there when we fall. Yes, He sees us make the wrong choice and is not happy with it. We can't blame Him for our wrong decisions – because it's ours to make. We must take responsibility for what we choose to do.
I pray that we would learn to stand on our feet and pursue holiness and Godliness always.
