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.
Well, I have personally faced times in my life when the trials and temptations were too much for me to handle. Before you accuse me of giving the impression that God's Word is untrue, let us clarify a few issues:
- Paul identified with the way I have felt - about being faced with more than he could bear.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
- God has promised not to allow the devil to put more on us than we can bear. But all throughout Scriptures, we read about men and women who were faced with huge trials that caused them to despair. Many, saying things that indirectly meant it was too much to bear- Job cursed the day he was born. His pain was too much that he wished he had not been born altogether. The truth is that in this life , we will know trouble and pain . Jesus assured us - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
- We will face many trials and temptations in this world. On our own they will seem too much to bear just like Apostle Paul described. It is when we rely on God to take us through these trials and tempations that we can survive them, or die as martyrs through them. When Job learnt this lesson, he stopped cursing his birth and declared -
And in Job 23:10 , he declared - "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job, at a point in time realised that it was necessary to continue trusting God ,though he humanly did not understand why God will allow such things to befall him. It was his simple trust in God amidst honest questionings that helped him to survive his ordeal. God shall always bring a way of escape when we trust Him, and look up to Him. He gave Jesus the strength and courage to bear the cross, and will give you same to bear what you are faced with.
Just like Paul acknowledged in 2 Corinthians 1, his troubles were too much to bear so that he would not rely on himself, but on God, who eventually delivered him. God gives us strength when we look to Him. He enables us to find a way of escape. Look to God!
- WHAT IS NEXT?
