Temptation
March 18, 2022 — Laura House
I recently revisited the account in the Bible of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Are you familiar with the passage? Satan tempts Jesus three different times, and you likely remember His responses. Each time, Jesus responded by quoting Scripture. Because He was the Son of God, He could have skipped the pain of humanity and taken care of the Deceiver right then and there; but instead, He endured the temptations, conquering them each time by using the power of God’s Word.
Reading the passage caused me to pause to consider the temptations that I encounter in my life. Had these changed since losing Nathan? If you’ve experienced grief, then you can likely relate, that often, in the midst of our vulnerability, these temptations, and many more, may come our way.
We can be tempted to become bitter, turning away from the truth of God’s unconditional love for us. The beautiful truth is that He created each of us and loves us with a love that we can’t begin to fathom. He is good, faithful, and will never leave us.
We can be tempted to drift into self-pity, dismissing the knowledge that earthly life is full of pain and suffering and is actually something that we should expect. In fact, it is one of the most prominent themes in the Bible. Why didn’t I notice that before? Whether we like it or not, only through suffering can we enter into the depth of intimacy with God that we desire.
We can be tempted to doubt God’s plan. God is the sovereign Creator of everything and nothing happens apart from Him allowing it. How can I reconcile this truth with what happened to Nathan? Believe me, this is a question that permeated my thinking at the beginning of my grief journey. If your loss is fresh and you are struggling with this, I encourage you to talk to the Lord about it. Pour your heart out to Him. For me, after a significant time of wrestling, I came to the realization that because God is sovereign, He knew what was happening and could’ve changed the outcome. Why didn’t He? I don’t know. Fortunately, I don’t have to know, I only have to trust.
Although grief can make us vulnerable to these temptations and many more, we can follow Jesus’ example to deal with them. We can counter temptation with the Word of God.
Do you need a reminder today of God’s love for you?
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” — 1 John 3:1
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“ — Lamentations 3: 22–23
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.” — John 15:9
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8: 37-39
Are you feeling self-pity creeping in and forgetting earthly life’s inevitable suffering?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1: 2-4
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” — I Peter 1: 6-7
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” — Romans 5:3-4
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” — I Peter 4: 12-13
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” — James 1: 12
Do you need to remind yourself of God’s sovereignty?
“For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” — Colossians 1:16-17
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” — 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21
As we walk this road of grief, let’s stay alert to temptations that creep into our thoughts and try to steer us away from what is true. When we encounter them, let’s strive to overcome them by utilizing the power of God’s Word.
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12
