If a man told you that he was about to leave his full-time job to serve the Lord, what temptations or challenges would you expect him to face? I can imagine such person having the following questions in their heart:

  1. “For so many years, I earned a living for myself and had financial security. Now, I would have to trust God for my most basic needs. Will He provide all my needs?”
  2. "The ministry I am about to engage in will attract a lot of animosity and anger from powerful people, and my life will often be at risk. Would the Lord truly protect me from all harm?"
  3. “Do I really need to go through all these trials and testing to fulfill God’s purpose?”

 

The Bible says Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are, and so I believe Jesus too would have been tempted with the thoughts outlined above after His water baptism and before His public ‘full-time’ ministry was about to commence. The Bible also says that the devil considered this an especially good time to tempt Jesus (Luke 4:13), given the devil’s knowledge of the flesh’s weaknesses. And so for each of the thoughts outlined above, the devil tempted Jesus with a potential/quick solution:

  1. “Take matters into your own hands and use your spiritual gift to meet your own needs (turn these stones into bread).”
  2. “Test God now to see if he will truly protect you (jump from the pinnacle of this temple and see if He will save you).”
  3. “Take this pain-free shortcut to attain authority and glory over this earth (you will be given all these if only you bow down and worship Satan).”

 

However, Jesus resisted these temptations and provided us with an example of how to trust God and not give in to short-sighted temptations. And we see that in the long run, God eventually gave Him all that the devil had tempted Jesus with earlier without Jesus having to make any compromises. We read later in scripture that God:

  1. Provided all of Jesus’ needs, both through people and even through angels (Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 4:11).
  2. Protected Jesus from every single evil scheme concocted by the Pharisees and others, until it was His appointed time when Jesus was to go to the cross (Luke 4:29-30, John 7:30, 10:39).
  3. Glorified Jesus beyond measure and gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth and over every created thing (Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2:8-11).

 

At various times in our lives, we may face misunderstandings with people, health issues, job uncertainties, and more. In those moments, it can be tempting to be short-sighted and think that if we don't take matters into our own hands or give in to temptation, we will miss out on the best outcome for that situation. However, God always has a better solution in store for me if only I remain patient and put my trust in Him alone until the end.

I have resolved to have the attitude that two things are certain in the future:

  1. I will face many trials; and
  2. My Heavenly Father will always ensure the final outcome of every trial is for my very best!

The only thing that is uncertain is what my attitude will be in the midst of the trial. Will it be one of worry, anxiety, fear, complaining, anger, and discontentment? Or will it be one of faith, joy, peace, and rest in my Father’s love? The answer is up to me!

 

May we all seek to make use of every difficult, trying, or uncertain situation in our lives — which the devil may see as an opportune time to tempt us into sin and unbelief — as a chance to prove our trust in our Heavenly Father! God is faithful, He will never withhold any good thing from His children!

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” - Psalm 84:11