A Firm Foundation Through this World's Temptations

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

New International Version (NIV)

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it

You may be like me and have heard the second part of this many times. You may also be like me and not noticed verse twelve. I want to start there and we'll work our way through these two verses.

"If you think you are standing firm" 

It's easy to think we are doing a good job, resisting temptation and staying on track. If you look up the word firm it has two definitions. The first is a solid, unyielding surface. The second is strongly felt and unlikely to change. It's important to have a "firm foundation in Christ.

Luke 6:48 says

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

We have to have a firm foundation if we are going to stand through Satan's trials. Verse twelve is also a warning though. We may think we have a strong enough foundation but Satan knows exactly what to do to shake that foundation and make us fall. Whether it's a test of our faith by some major life event happening or a test of our will power and reliance on God when it comes to food. He knows what to do to make us fall if we don't rely on God.

Then we get to verse thirteen and that is where we find a few promises. First we are told that we will be temped and "overtaken" by things common to man. Common means it happens often and overtaken refers to something passing us by without it being expected. That's the bad news of verse 13. We will be tempted by things that are usual and happen often. Secondly, it wil happen when we least expect it! Many of us have thought we had a firm foundation in Christ until something unexpected happens and their faith is greatly tested. Now for the second part of the promis and this is the good news! 

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. v. 13

God is faithful! If we turn to Him, He will help us through! He will help us endure whatever trial that may be.I want to share my own experience of God helping me through a major temptation in my life. It has nothing to do with food but instead, my marriage. 

 In 2012 my husband was going through major anxiety and depression. He disconnected from everyone around him and hardly left our bedroom. Many times he was quite mean to me and the kids. For a while I was listening to what people around me said, 

"Give up, he's not going to change. Why put yourself through that?" 

And I was miserable. I almost did give up on my marriage many times. Then one day I realized something. I had to do things His way, not the world's. Making it through that year taught me to rely on God's strength to get through each day. You know what? He is faithful and helped me through! He made it so that I could endure each day of watching my husband disconnect from everything around him. In the end though we were both brought through it and our family is once agan as it should be! It's not perfect but I learned to endure by relying on God and He didn't let me down! 

Whatever the temptation may be, food, marriage issues, drugs, alcohol, Satan's tricks may seem too strong at the moment but if we make our foundation strong and rely on God He will not let us fall. 

What temptations or trials has your firm foundation in Christ helped you through?