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

Dear God, this is yet another one of those Bible verses that is taken and changed by a lot of Christians. I hear this one quoted a lot as, “God will not give us more than we can bear.” Well, that’s not what this says. In fact, you often give us more than we can bear so that we can be reminded that we cannot bear it alone. We need you. Some people call that using religion as a crutch. I call it the reality of life. Are you a crutch for me? Sure. It’s arrogant to think I don’t need that crutch in my life.

So, as for the temptations mentioned in this passage. That’s a different story. There are times when I simply give in. Selfishness. Lying. Lusting. Coveting. Hating. Worshiping idols. Gluttony. I do it all. You don’t bring me anything that is beyond me resisting, but sometimes it feels irresistible.

Father, help me to recognize the temptation when I see it, name it, and seek you, my crutch, in resisting it. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen