Thursday, November 15, 2018

21 Day Devotional: Day 11: Trials, Temptations, Doubt, Fear and Worry.


Sometimes, as Christians, Jesus followers, believers, church folks, we think that we should be worry free, problem free, doubt free, trial free, and free from temptations.  In fact, some churches actually teach that if you are tempted to sin, you are not really saved.  Or that if you have worry or fear or doubt you are not really saved.  This is simply not true.  Day one of this devotional taught you that God’s Word is true, regardless of how you feel.  The introduction taught you that your salvation was not earned, but given, as a gift.  So, no matter how you feel, if you have confessed your sin, repented, and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are saved.

Even so, there will still be days you face temptation, fear, trials, worry, and doubt… just like you did before you were saved.  God is now working in you, to make you a better you, to mold you into His image, but you still have tendencies, you still have desires, you still have wants, and you still have things you like to do.  You have prayed a prayer asking for forgiveness and God assures us in His Word that our sins have been washed white as snow… but you have not forgotten how to sin, or how to worry, or how to doubt, or how to fear.  It’s normal to have these emotions and these feelings.  It’s normal to be tempted.  Jesus faced all these emotions and trials too when He lived on Earth as a man.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus faced day to day oppositions and temptations just like us.

He was hungry.
He was tired.
He was sad.
He wept.
He hurt.
He was disappointed.
He was betrayed.
He was spat on, mocked, laughed at, beaten, and tortured.

Imagine having to eat dinner and even wash the feet of someone who was going to turn you over to be tortured, beaten, and then crucified.  Jesus ate with, and washed Judas feet, just hours before Judas betrayed him!

It’s not the trial and the temptation, the fear, the worry, or the doubt that comes our way, but how we deal with the situation that makes a difference.  A lot of people say “God will not give me more than I can handle.” But the truth is life is ALWAYS more than you can handle on your own.  You need to run to Jesus with your troubles and let Him guide and direct you through them.  Don’t despair that you have a problem.  Go to Jesus and pray about your problem and let Him show you the action that will move you forward in making you more into His image.

He helps us be able to bear the burdens of life.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)  


He asked us in His Word to lean on Him, rely on Him, trust in Him, and cast all our cares on Him.  This means to throw them on Him.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you: He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

His Word declares that He is a rock.  He is a fortress, and a place of refuge or hiding for those that feel overwhelmed and need Him.  Instead of sitting and meditating on your fear and worry and doubt, or giving in to sin temptations that you know will get you in trouble or do more harm than good… hide yourself away in a quiet place, alone with your Bible, and begin to read and pray.  Let God be the place you go to and tell Him about your troubles instead of posting them on Facebook or social media or even calling and texting other people. 

“He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

When you are afraid or worried and don’t know where to turn, read all of Psalm 91.  God protects you, He hears you, He knows what you’re going through, turn to Him.

Read John Chapter 11.

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