We Shall Be Able to Endure
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1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
My first thought as I read through these verses was how I need to turn over my goal of losing some weight to God. My daughter is to be married in less than a year and I have used that as a “deadline.” I don’t have a particular number of pounds in mind; I just want to feel better about myself, be healthier, and be better able to keep up with the three-year olds I teach! I recently skimmed through an article about a woman who prayed every time she wanted to eat something she shouldn’t, or that was more than she needed. Prayer warrior that I am, I will be using that technique over the coming months.
This dual exhortation and promise applies to more than just weight loss though. Like Paul, we all have a “thorn in the side.” That challenge or struggle is to keep us from believing we can do “it” on our own. Whatever it is, we need God – for losing weight, to quit smoking, to give up any self-destructive habit. This need also applies to habits like judging others based on external things like what they wear or how they look, and on using bad language, self-pity and negativity, needing to please everyone. God can even handle serious addictions like alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.
Many of these self-destructive behaviors do require human intervention, like counseling, rehabilitation therapy, or medical treatment. But the chances of success at ridding ourselves of any bad habit are much greater when we submit to God and His power, His strength, His endurance. Alcoholics Anonymous encourages recovering alcoholics to turn their lives over to a “higher power.” For Christians the power is the healing, restorative, redemptive power on Christ. We know God understands our need, our struggle, and our weakness because He became a living, breathing human being two thousand years ago.
A debate among many is whether Jesus was able to resist temptation because even though He was human, he was also divine. My contention has always been that his divinity merely directed his thoughts and prayers and actions, but he felt very human feelings. Otherwise, how would he understand us so intimately? I think about the times I wished I could have crawled inside the head of one of my children to figure out exactly what was going on in there! That’s how I think God felt. He wanted to know what it feels like to be us.
I am awed and humbled to think that our great and mighty, infinite God would love us so much and long for us so much that he just couldn’t stand not being among us. That’s the God who uplifts, encourages and saves. That’s the God who understands our struggle, and loves us too much to make us endure it alone. That’s the God to whom I will be praying in these coming months, not just for weight loss, but for every aspect of my life where I want/need improvement. That’s the God who loves me passionately in spite of my shortcomings and failings.
Because of that God, I rejoice every morning at another opportunity to live out this life with which I have been gifted. Because He is my God and your God, we are each and all a part of the one divine creation called humanity.
My prayer today is that surrender whatever you are struggling with to God. And that you rejoice that He is ready, willing, and more than able to take your burden upon Himself.
Mary
