Do you ever have those days when you know you need to be doing something, but you are distracted by so many other things? ?It seems no matter how many times you start, you are easily overtaken by something else. I remember back in the days before laptops and wifi, I was most distracted by the television. Oh not now! ?Do you know how many fonts and graphics there are out there, or how many cool things there are to pin? ?Just in case you didn’t know, there are tons of amazing websites to look at, with ?equally amazing things to buy. ?It is the Easily Distracted’s best and worst playground. Even right now, I want to click a different tab and look at some t-shirts that I think are cool and read an article I found.
My distractions are taking me away from homework that I need to get done and from getting my blog posted in a timely manner; these things, though important, aren’t end of the world issues, but it did made me consider the other things that we don’t do because we let unimportant things get in our way. ?Do you ever find yourself daydreaming? Have you ever thought, “I’m just going to check my social media real quick,” and some time later, you realize you’ve lost an hour, or two? ?Have you ever went to the store to get a quick something only to leave several hours later? ?We’ve all done it. ?I like to call it task avoiding; you know you have something important to do, but you chose to be distracted by other things to avoid the task that really needs to get done.
Sometimes I feel like the queen.
I was reminded this morning of one of the first scriptures I memorized as a teen, that didn’t come from a Sunday School teacher.??
“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.” ~ I Corinthians 10:13
At the time, and probably into most of my adult life, I thought it was just for bad stuff. ?You know, those of the “thou shall not” category, but it’s not. ?There is such beauty in this scripture, such a lack of condemnation. ?Let’s stop and think about this for a minute; the first sentence basically says that your temptation, your distraction, your test, is common. ?You are not alone, others have this same issue. ?That statement all by itself should bring you tremendous peace. (And causes Kari Jobe to start singing in ?your head). For me, regardless of the issue, knowing that others have battled and won, gives me hope.
God Is Faithful
Then there is the next sentence. Cue clouds parting, sun shining, angels singing. Three little words that could change your life if you let them, “God is faithful.” Oh, yes He is. Those words required nothing after them to be the most pivotal words we could read, but because God is faithful, He allowed Paul to explain it to our doubting selves.
I have heard it said many times, “I don’t know if I can take any more of this,” or “God knows I can’t take this.” ?He does know. ?And at those times, when we think we are at the end of our rope, He may allow a little more, to stretch us.
Romans 5:3-5 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,?and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,?and hope does not put us to shame, because God?s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
God is making you strong, but if you are struggling and need a “tap out,” He has provided that too. ?You see, Paul writes that with any temptation or testing, God provides a way out. I’m smiling right now at the beauty of this because it almost seems to easy; just call on Him. Carrie Underwood did a great job in reminding us that all we need to say is “Jesus take the wheel.”?It’s that simple.
Stand on the promise that God is there for you, regardless of the temptation, regardless of the test. ?He is there for you if you are struggling with eating a piece of candy or with something so monumental, your name would end up on the news. ?Jesus has been there and understands your temptation. ?Call out to Him and then listen.
Father, how awesome it is to know that you are there for us. ?That you know everything that we could ever endure and you use it to grow us and to bring you glory. ?Help us to remember that you are only a breath away when we are being tested and that you are so very faithful. ?Help us to remember that nothing is too big or too small for you. We love you Lord and give all glory to you, in Jesus precious name, Amen.
