“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. 
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Boy, that way out sure sounds good, doesn’t it?!  How often do we want out of the difficult, pressure-filled times of our lives!  God is faithful.  He will provide a way out of temptation.  We don’t have to give into sin.  But many times, the way OUT of our testing is THROUGH!  Sometimes God wants us to stay right where we are until we learn to handle our situation with His grace – by His power, and not our own.

 

We’ve all seen instances where people have taken that way out prematurely – gotten divorced, left their families or churches – instead of staying and working things out.  Most of the times, the results are a whole lot of hurt – both for them and for others.  The last time I was at the airport I saw a mother saying good-bye to her son who was flying off to spend some time with his father.  She cried and I couldn’t help but grieve with her.  Had someone at sometime taken the “easy” way out?

 

Sometimes, it looks like things have worked out well for those who have gotten out.  They end up happier in their new circumstances.  I wonder though, if they may have missed out on a greater good – an opportunity to learn to be faithful, a little more like God!  Jeremiah 5:25 says “...your sins have deprived you of good.”  Let me assure you that you will never miss out on anything worthwhile by choosing to do things God’s way.
 
God doesn’t want us to be gluttons for punishment.  There are certainly times when change is exactly what God wants for us.  But let’s make sure we aren’t just taking the “easy” way out – lest we end up finding out it wasn’t so easy after all.