Temptation

What one word comes to mind when you think of temptation? Chocolate and shopping would be high on the list of most women, but what about those times when we are tempted to doubt God. Like Peter, we too often take our eyes off the Lord to focus on the raging storms around us. When we do that, we sink into the sea of our own doubts.

Back in the garden, Eve innocently allowed herself to be drawn into a tempting situation where she doubted God. The serpent was subtle and lied to Eve - deceived her. Had Eve really understood God's love and been aware of Satan’s lie, would she still have been tempted to eat the fruit? Would you? Satan denied the consequences that would follow and actually made evil appear to be good. Let’s look at the story in Genesis 3:1-7 from The Message:
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’" The serpent told the Woman, "You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what’s really going on" — saw themselves naked!

From the beginning, Satan has attempted to raise doubts about the honesty and goodness of God and he still whispers in our ears, "has God really said that?" When we doubt, we give Satan the opportunity he is waiting for to overcome our minds with questions about the love of God for us or the power of God within us. We end up feeling exactly as Adam and Eve did – naked and ashamed before our God.

I’d like to share a personal story about a time when I doubted God. I accepted the Lord at 29. I went through a difficult time about a year later when I prayed and prayed that God would give me a child. But my husband and I had agreed before we were married that we would not have children. I doubted this decision and God’s love for me if He did not grant my heart's desire. At that time, I even contemplated whether to stay in the marriage if I could not fulfill what I perceived to be my godly role as a woman. I met a Bahamian Christian woman who helped me see that God’s will for me was to love my husband and assured me that God loved me in spite of the choices I made in the past. Although I have missed the joys and lessons of parenthood, being free from the obligations of family life has allowed my husband and me to fill roles those with children could not.

Satan is a powerful, dangerous enemy. Never underestimate him, but remember, we are not on our own, defenseless against attack. The power of the Holy Spirit within believers empowers us, through acts of faith, to accomplish more than our human capabilities would allow.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13


Photo: Ron Hughes
© June 2008