Journal Entry ~ 04/21/19
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 have such a tendency to hide in our trials because our fear of judgment is stronger than God’s call for us to live in community. This is how the enemy draws us away and isolates us in our trials. He convinces us that our specific problem is not common to man, but rather only for people who deserved to be judged as failures.
When I was walking through my trials with my sons, I remember the strong desire to keep silent about their struggles. I had one son overwhelmed by depression and suicidal thoughts, and another one being arrested for possession of drugs and then committed to rehab. I was just sure people would judge me for not being a good parent. I was very involved in my kids’ lives, we were a close knit family who had dinner together every night and devotions every evening. Depression and addiction were things that happened in families where parents didn’t care or pay attention - oh, how prideful I was! I didn’t want people to judge me as a terrible parent, so initially I was tempted to keep quiet about my struggle....but that was just the enemy trying to isolate me.
As I began to share my struggles in my small group, I found an incredibly supportive group of people who came around me in a great time of need. I found people who had walked the path ahead of me and had such biblical wisdom for me, I found people walking beside me in the same type of struggle to help me continue to find Him in my struggle, and I found people behind me on the path whom He allowed me to teach.
Don’t let the enemy convince you your problem is not common, and don’t let the enemy convince you that people will judge you - that is how he isolates you. Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. - Proverbs 18:1. God calls us to live in communities because He knows our need to encourage and support each other in our deepest and darkest valleys and to teach each other what we have learned from Him on the path. He knows we need community to help us to see the deception we cannot see in our own hearts - the enemy will use fear of man’s judgment to isolate us from that community.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. We are all walking through the same struggles, my friends. Link arms with fellow believers and find your strength in Him. He has brought those communities into your life specifically to help you fight your battle - THIS is your way of escape.
Press on ~ you are loved 💗
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