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.
In the face of temptation, God has promised us two things:
- A way out.
- The power to stand up under trial.
Can we really believe this? Yes, because Jesus demonstrated this power, God promised us this power and he is faithful, and we can look at brothers and sisters in Christ who have triumphed by this power! However, we must not think that the way out means that we will not face challenges, hardships, temptations, or difficulties. Character is produced both by refusing to give in to temptation and also by refusing to give up during the challenges we face to remain faithful. God will provide us a way out, but he is also interested in developing our holy character. Where the balance is between a way out and developing our holy character is God’s work. Whether we choose to remain faithful is our work (Romans 5:1-5; 1 Peter 1:7).