Day 13 — The Way Out

“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 an escape, so that you can stand up under it.”

— 1 Corinthians 10:13 (BSB)

A temptation is a pull toward doing something wrong. It’s that little voice that says, Go ahead, just this once. Nobody will know. It’s not a big deal.

Maybe you’re tempted to lie to get out of trouble. To copy someone’s homework. To say something mean. To watch something you know you shouldn’t. To take something that isn’t yours. Everyone gets tempted.

This verse gives us three great truths about temptation.

1. You’re not the only one. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.” When you’re tempted, it’s easy to think, I must be the worst person ever. Nobody else struggles like this. But that’s not true! Everyone faces temptation. Even Jesus was tempted. You’re not weird, and you’re not alone.

2. God is faithful. “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” God is watching over you, and He won’t let the temptation get so strong that you have no choice. With His help, you can always say no.

3. There’s always a way out. “He will also provide an escape.” Think of a building with a big red EXIT sign over the door. When there’s a fire, you look for the exit. God promises that in every temptation, there’s an exit sign.

What might the way out look like?

• Walking away from the situation.
• Changing the subject.
• Turning off the screen.
• Saying, “No, I’m not going to do that.”
• Calling a parent or friend.
• Saying a quick prayer: “God, help me!”
• Remembering a Bible verse.

The escape is usually there early. The longer you stay near the temptation, the harder it is to leave. So when you feel the pull, look for the exit sign right away, and take it!

And if you do give in, remember: God is still faithful. You can tell Him you’re sorry, and He will forgive you.

Think about it: What’s a temptation you face often? What could the “way out” look like for you?

Try this: Plan ahead. Write down one temptation you often face, and next to it, write your “exit plan”: exactly what you’ll do next time.

Dear God, thank You that I’m not the only one who is tempted, and that You are faithful. When I’m tempted, help me see the way out that You provide, and give me the strength to take it quickly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.