On Emmaus Road

We are 10 days into the new year. For many, those New Year’s resolutions are going strong. For others, you’re like, “What did I say I was going to do?”. And for some, you are fighting the temptation, the appeal of just quitting and going back to how things have always been. Making any kind of change, big or small is no easy task. It’s usually when you’ve made some progress or hit a hard patch that the temptation to just give up or give in shows up.

I’m using the idea of resolutions a lot of us made as a common framework for us to work from for this week’s scripture.

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

James 1: 13 - 14

I was less then thrilled to have these be the verses that spoke to me this week. I was like, “I have zero desire to write a “downer” blog.” - yet here we are. Fighting temptation is hard y’all - really hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s a surface level temptation, like stopping a New Year’s resolution or a deeper temptation to return to old sinful behaviors.

Our desires, our “in this moment I want _________” desires, cause us to be tempted to leave the path we are on. We find ways to justify what we want in that moment. We become satan’s strongest supporter as we convince ourselves - permit ourselves, to follow our own desires instead of God’s.

How do we combat the temptation?

Spend time daily in God’s word.
Build a strong relationship with Jesus.
Call out for His help in times of temptation.

The temptations won’t necessarily go away, but our desires will be more like His. And we will have an easier time holding our ground when temptation comes our way.

The above scripture makes it clear that God is never the one doing the tempting, the one baiting us to stumble and fall. He also isn’t leaving us to fight the battle alone.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13

He will show us a way out friends. How to not to fall, but we have to be seeking Him. When temptation comes - and it will, let’s turn our eyes to Jesus to show us the way out.

To Everything There Is A Season…

Kiley Ann

Each Friday of January I am going to be taking a look at the book of James. It is a book I have read several times, yet each time I read through it something new stands out. If you’ve never read this book I highly recommend you go give it a read. It might only be five chapters long, but it is packed full of wisdom.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2

That line, “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” sure packs a punch. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t naturally look at the trouble I’m facing as an opportunity. Let alone an opportunity for joy! Looking at trouble like that is a shift. It makes us look at the hard situations we’re in through a different lens. How will my troubles look when I view it that way instead? Will they be easier to face? Will I be encouraged the next time one presents itself? How do I train my brain to view it that way?

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1: 3 - 4

When I faced troubles in the past I always felt like my faith was harder to maintain during that time, but I never thought of it as a testing. That those troubles were actually testing my faith to see where I stood. Or that by facing those troubles my endurance would strengthen and my faith grow stronger. I guess I would like to believe that my faith could grow strong without the troubles. However, if there isn’t any troubles to face, would faith really be needed? Would we be able to understand the importance of trusting that God is in control and not us?

I realize I’m posing a lot of questions and not really giving you any answers. But I think sometimes there are not answers to give right away. Sometimes you have to live through it first.

We all face troubles - some big, some small, but each plays a part in our faith journey. Each one gives us the choice to either stand firm in our beliefs or a convenient excuse to walk away from them. It’s hard friends. No one wants to face hard times, but when I think about looking at them this way; that it’s a chance to see joy, a chance to grow my endurance and faith, that eventually I will be perfect and complete, well - it makes me slightly more hopeful about whatever troubles lay ahead. That maybe I don’t need to be so fearful of the troubles when they arrive. Instead, I should embrace them.

May you find joy in your troubles and a renewed endurance on the other side.

To Everything There Is A Season…

Kiley Ann