“No temptation (test) has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tested) beyond what you are able but with the temptation (test) will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1Corinthians 10:13
You and I can win every day, but to do so, we must begin by agreeing with God’s definition of what victory as a Christian looks like.
First what it doesn’t look like. Winning does not mean having no troubles, struggles, or issues to deal with. Jesus said the wind and the waves will crash against every life (Matthew 7:24-27) and promised His disciples that they would have troubles in this world. (John 16:33) He even warned us ahead of time to not be offended by this. (John 16:1-2)
So what is victory, and how can I walk every day with assurance? Instead of delivering us from life’s troubles, God promises to walk with us through them. The same Greek word, “peirasmos,” is translated as temptation and test. Which is right? The same set of circumstances can easily be described as both a temptation and a test – Satan tempts to bring us down; God allows tests to purify and strengthen us. God won’t always prevent a temptation, but in His faithfulness He will limit them, so that we can walk through our troubles with Him. Tests invite us to draw near, so we will know the way He has provided for our escape even though “escape” may mean strength to endure through instead of a deliverance from.
In school we need to pass tests to advance to the next grade and I think it’s the same in the kingdom. God’s beloved children don’t get an identity of failure when they give into temptation but will just keep retaking the same test until we pass it. We decide how long the process lasts. (Three weeks could end up being 40 years!) He ultimately wants to build in each of us an assurance of victory that is able to say: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
One Thing 