Leaning in, leaning on, learning more

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (I Corinthians 10:13)

We should find a little reassurance in knowing the present temptation or trial we face is not dissimilar to what others have faced and survived. It may not be identical, but it could have been attempting to uncover similar issues within our character, just in a slightly different manner. The trial or temptation you face is meant to bring about one of two things: 1) bring out something within your character that needs to change; or 2) create something within your character that bolsters what is already there. God is either trying to rid us of something or allow something of greater depth to be produced within. Either way, we aren't to avoid these as much as allow them to draw us closer to where God desires us to be. When we reject the temptation, we draw near to him. When we embrace the trial, he creates a strength of character that likely didn't exist before the trial. Either way, we trust God, lean into his protection and provision, and grow. 

We lean into his provision whenever we seek to resist temptation - for he provides a way of escape for each one we face, regardless of how hard it may be in the natural to resist it. We just need to embrace the way of escape. It could be we struggle with some habitual response to a particular temptation, but God shows us what we could implement a particular action in order to break the 'chain' of temptation before we get bound by it. Example: We like to overeat or binge on snack foods. God's plan might be that we only buy our groceries online, avoiding the glitzy snack food items that are so prominently displayed on the end caps at the grocer. Another example is that we get angry when we arrive home to find dishes in the sink, countertops filled with crumbs and spills, and children just lazing around playing video games. We might find God tells us to send a text message 30-minutes before we are to arrive home, giving those who have made the mess the chance to 'clean up' before mom arrives. Breaking the cycle of sin is never easy, but it is possible, often with quite simple changes in our behavior. 

We lean into his protection whenever we go through a trial and refuse to lean on our own strength, know-how, and 'critical thinking' to get us through. We ask for his wisdom, listen intently, and then do what he prompts. We still go through the trial, but we are leaning on him all the while, refusing to take back the control we freely gave to him. It is easy to trust him early in the trial for his provision of all we will need to endure it, but it is much harder to do so when the trial gets long and arduous. Regardless of the length of the trial, we are being taught a great deal when we lean into his provision and trust him with the timing. Just sayin!