Turning Temptations Into Blessings and Stumbles Into Stepping Stones
We all face temptations, and sometimes we fail — but it doesn’t have to destroy us!
A few days ago, my wife and I were driving to a local restaurant to pick up a take-out order. Because I didn’t know how to get to the place, she was trying to give me directions as I drove.
If you’ve ever been in that situation, you know there can be moments of indecision and confusion as your navigator tries to tell you where to turn, and you’re not sure if she means right here, or up the street a little, or maybe even at that corner you just passed.
So, I was admittedly driving a bit erratically as I tried to determine just what I was supposed to do. Really, though, I was doing the best I could — I wasn’t holding up the line of traffic on purpose.
But the driver in the car behind me didn’t appreciate my dithering at all! She blew her horn at me, and I could see her in my rearview mirror making wild gestures of exasperation.
In my confusion, I had stopped between lanes. I waved for her to swing past our car, which there was plenty of room for her to do. But she didn’t do that. Instead, she just sat there behind me and continued her angry arm-waving.
I’d like to tell you that as a mature Christian I displayed no anger at the rage that impatient driver directed toward me; that in fact, I prayed blessings upon her as I finally figured out where I was going and cheerfully went on my way.
Failing the temptation test
I’d like to be able to tell you that… but I can’t. You see, instead of reacting gracefully, I responded in kind, and retaliated with some wild arm-waving of my own.
That was, of course, absolutely wrong, and I knew it as soon as I did it. I felt ashamed of myself, and fervently hoped that the other driver hadn’t been able to see the gestures I made at her. Since we had both moved on, I couldn’t apologize to her.
But I did immediately repent before the Lord. I realized I had just been given a spiritual test and had flunked it.
But all is not lost!
I was reminded of that episode today as I read about Jesus being subjected to temptation by the devil:
“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” (Mark 1:12–13, NKJV).
Jesus was deliberately led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted. If it was necessary for Him to endure temptation, we surely must expect to be subjected to it ourselves.
In fact, being tempted — and overcoming the temptation — is a normal part of the Christian life. It’s a necessary element in our spiritual growth.
Being tempted — and overcoming the temptation — is a normal part of the Christian life.
That’s really what my adventure with that irate driver was all about. Her vividly expressed anger toward me presented me with the temptation to throw some anger right back at her. It was a test (interestingly, the New Testament uses the same Greek word, peirazó, for both a temptation and a test) and at that moment, I failed it.
But here’s the great thing — although I didn’t overcome that temptation immediately, I did overcome it in the end.
How to recover when you fail the temptation test
How do you get back up spiritually after falling into temptation? By confession and repentance!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).
Through confession and sincere repentance, not only have I been cleansed from that particular instance of sin, but I have also been strengthened spiritually for the next time I’m presented with a temptation to respond in kind to another’s anger, aggression, disrespect, or provocation.
So, the next time you mess up, don’t give up. Instead, ‘fess up. And God will turn even your stumbles into stepping stones of spiritual growth.
When you mess up, don’t give up. Instead, ‘fess up, and let God turn your stumbles into stepping stones.
