Remember

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. (1 Corinthians 10:13, MSG)

Every person goes through heartache whether it is the death of a loved one, illness, or personal harassment. We all come to a point in our lives where things can get difficult. Does God consider our potential based on the way we handle trouble? Does He then give out challenges to us so that it doesn’t go beyond what we alone can handle with our own ability?

Is that what the above verse means? Could the correct meaning of this verse be that we can handle everything if we move forward by faith with divine assistance? Does God know what will be given to us by grace as we handle what He has given us? We are dependent on the grace that comes with the difficulty. Just for fun, here are the top five self-reported temptations in America:

·        60% of Americans are often living in a state of debilitating temptation to anxiety or worry, and the fear that usually comes with it. The younger you are the more probable it is that you are stuck in the rut of apprehension about life.

 

·        60% of Americans are often stuck in habits of procrastination. We simply cannot do what needs to be done in a timely manner. This is more a temptation for the young than for their grandparents.

 

·        55% of Americans are overwhelmed by the temptation to eat too much. Overeating and the growing concern about obesity is of course not news.

 

·        44% of Americans admit that they face temptations to overuse electronics and social media such as Facebook, video games, and television. Young people are almost twice as likely as their elders to become addicted to online activities. This should not lead one to assume that their parents and grandparents are immune from the temptation. Plenty of people have negative consequences in their lives because they cannot tear themselves away from their phones or laptops.

 

·        41% of Americans say they are often tempted by laziness or by not working as hard as reasonably expected in their occupations.  Selfishness is a core sin within humankind. Perhaps that explains why people of all ages are tempted to hurt family, friends, coworkers, and bosses with selfish slacking, doing what feels good to them however much it may harm others.

“Temptation is the feeling we get when encountered by an opportunity to do what we innately know we shouldn't.” (Steve Maraboli)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “God will give you more than you can handle” by Christian Worldview Press

·        “Our Top Five Temptations” by Todd Hunter

·        “Will God Ever Give Us More Than We Can Handle?” by John Piper