W7D1: No Different From Others

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Life is full of ups and downs. Sure, sometimes we can hang on by ourselves and ride the storm out, but there are times when the storms never seem to end or one has tossed us so hard we don’t think we can ever get up again. There are times in our lives when we know we can’t endure it unless something miraculously changes.

When someone is facing hardships Christians will use 1 Corinthians 10:13 to comfort and assure them that God will not give them more than they can bear. We also throw this verse back into God’s face during very dark times in our own lives. We cry out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” during times we know we are carrying more than we can bear, in the midst of crushing circumstances.

If we are not careful, we will begin to feel like no one has ever been hurt as deeply as we have been. We tell ourselves that no one understands the pain we are suffering. This is a ploy of our enemy to make us feel alone so we will give up. Our pain can make us feel alone in a room full of people we know. At those times we have to remember that feelings don't tell the whole truth, they are only indicators of our hearts. When we are struggling to stand under the weight of our afflictions we need more than human companionship and understanding. Our relationships with others are good, and they are tools that God will use at times to help bring healing, but they are not going to fill and heal the broken pieces of our hearts.

This is why we work on having a close relationship with God; so we can know Him and know what He has promised us. Every day we need to build a defense against the schemes of the devil because there will be times in our lives that the weight of this world will land squarely on our shoulders. We have to learn how to hand over the little things as we go so we can let go of the big things when they come. And make no mistake, they will come. They hit everyone, young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong. 

The more we interact with God and His Word the more we can trust Him, lean on Him and let our troubles go. The trials and the pain of this world will come to everyone, it's our responsibility to be prepared for them. Preparation begins with nurturing a growing relationship with our Creator. This is how Christ followers respond out of the peace of God, instead of reacting to the pain of this world.

Do you read Scripture and interact with God’s Spirit on a daily basis? What are some actions you can take to make reading Scripture and interacting with God less of a chore and more of a joy?

Meditate on “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience."