April 24, 2021 — The Temptation to be Overwhelmed

“I was talking with one of my friends at work the other day,” I said to Stan one morning.  “He is really feeling overwhelmed with all he has to do.”

“What’s going on?” Stan asked.

“Lots of deadlines that seem impossible to meet, along with fellow employees who can’t seem to get along with one another, all sorts of things.  He said he’s feeling so overwhelmed with everything he sometimes thinks he will just quit.”

“Is he a believer?” Stan inquired.

“He is,” I replied. “Fairly new to his faith, but definitely a believer who is seeking to grow.  Do you have any suggestions as to how I might help him?”

“How about what the apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth about temptation?”

“Temptation?” I responded.  “What’s that have to do it?”

“Everything,” Stan replied.  “I think that where Paul was writing to the church, as well as to each one of us today, the subject of being tempted goes way beyond just being tempted to do wrong things.”

“Such as sinning?” I ventured.

“That’s right,” he replied.  “God provides the way out of every temptation to do wrong things, if we will just call on Him for His help, but He also provides the way out, for example, when  we are tempted to be overwhelmed by all sorts of stuff in our day-to-day circumstances.”

“So,” I said, “you think God will provide help to not be overwhelmed.  Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s it!” Stan exclaimed.  “I know beyond a shadow of doubt that Satan just loves to pull Christians down.  He loves to discourage them by overwhelming them with all sorts of stuff that can get in the way of a deeper relationship with God.”

“Don’t let him do it,” he concluded.  “Call upon God to help with every temptation, whatever it might be, wrong thinking, wrong doing, wrong being, whatever it is.  Remember that Jesus called the Holy Spirit the ‘Helper’ for a very good reason!”

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Bible verses to consider:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.  1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Corinthians 1:9.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper; that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.  John 14:16-17.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that you provide the way out of every temptation, regardless of what that temptation may look like.  You know how often I can have the sense of being overwhelmed by all that I face in my day-to-day life.  Being overwhelmed is not from you, but it is from the one who wants to use my circumstances to interfere with my relationship with you.  Please help me to call upon you and your every escape from the temptation to feel overwhelmed.  Help me to follow your lead into the peace that comes from calling upon you.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Think on this:  Do you tend to feel overwhelmed by what you face in your life?  Have you heard the expression, “Don’t tell God about how big the mountain is you’re facing; tell the mountain about the bigness of your God”?  Can you relate to that when you are feeling overwhelmed?  Why or why not?  What is the source of feeling overwhelmed?  Do you believe that God provides the way out of every temptation, whatever it is, whether wrong doing or wrong being?  Why or why not?