“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV).

Beloved,

I believe that 1 Corinthians 10:13 is one of those bible verses that each and every Christian should know by heart because it can sincerely operate like a powerful anchor in the storm of temptations. Whether we like it or not, in our earthly journey, as Christian, we will face temptations. Knowing that our creator will not allow any temptation that is above what we can afford is already a strong motivation for us not to succumb to it.

In his book things fall apart (Page 47), the Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, wrote this: “A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm”. I’m sure that like me, you witnessed those moments of your childhood when your mother attempting to give you a hot food would meticulously put it in her palm, handle it in different ways to access how hot it is ; she would then breath on it many times and only hand it over to you after she had ascertained that you could afford its residual level of heat.

That motherly attitude actually amplifies what the Bible says in Isaiah 49:16 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”

If most earthly mothers can go that far in ensuring they do not overstress and ultimately destroy their children, God has given us many assurances including the following (1) He will not forget us ; (2) He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our capacity; (3) He cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone (James 1:13).

Beloved, what temptation are you facing now? Whatever it is, believe that the Almighty God, your Creator, is confident that you have what it takes to overcome it or else, He would never have allowed it. Therefore, build on that strength in you knowing that temptations are platforms where transactions take place and where you lose part of your vulnerability and fears to gain more confidence in yourself and more spiritual stamina to overcome the wiles of the enemy of your soul.