Journal Entry ~ 04/17/19

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).

We are reminded in this passage that every trial and temptation we will face is “common to man.” You might feel as if nobody has ever gone through what you’re going through, nobody has felt this pain or nobody understands, or that your trial or your sin is shameful or embarrassing, that others may pass unkind judgement on you, "if only they knew what I was going through/thinking, they wouldn't accept me.  But all that thinking is just false. The enemy tries to paint your difficulties as unique in order to make you falter. Don’t fall for that! It's a lie that will lead you to isolation, increase your anxiety, and walk you down a path of sinful thinking. 

Your trials are common to man, He is walking you through difficulties that many others have gone through. More often than we realize, God has intentionally placed people who have gone through the same trials very near to us to provide a way through the trial. When we open up about where God has us, when we become transparent about the trials or the sin issues in our hearts, we often find others who have walked the similar paths sitting in our presence. That's God. 

The enemy wants to keep you alone, he wants to keep your mouth shut because he knows you will not be encouraged and your faith will falter when you're in a trial alone. God's plan is that you get with people of God and open your mouth. His plan is that we would help one another walk these difficult paths, to share how He opened our eyes to our blindness and our sin, to grab each other's hand and show others the path through the trial so we may all become refreshed and renewed. 

Press on ~ you are loved 💗