If we focus only on what is in front, we miss what is behind it.
-Gyeryong-San National Park S. Korea-
(Picture by Lisa R)

This weekend my Pastor taught on temptation. I for some reason unbeknownst to myself, have always thought of temptation as something that is easily seen, and therefore easily evaded. But what I am realizing is that temptation doesn’t just wrap itself in the “obviously” bad. No it is more cunning than that, often times it comes wrapped up in the desires of our heart. You know the trick the thing you want most in this world gets dangled in front of you, and all you have to do to get it is… As I am getting older, I am seeing the world in a way I hadn’t seen it before. I am learning to not just look at what’s in front of me, but also to search out and find what is hidden behind the choices that I make. Will my choices affect just me? Will it affect the people around me? Is it for the ultimate good? Or is it just self serving? Temptation is subtle and often times we miss it because it’s not dressed in a pitch fork with horns. My Pastor said this statement and I have been thinking about it all day: “God’s grace is meant for falling, not jumping.” Temptation means we jump, dive in head first without thought or consequence. Falling means just that…we fall into place with what was the plan all along. The lesson: Don’t just look at what’s in front, check behind it as well see where the rabbit hole really leads. If you get scared remember God’s grace will be there to make sure it all FALLS into place.

“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” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

So what am I thankful for today? Learning to look for what’s behind. (Yeah, that made my brain go, “huh?” too… 🙂 )