Temptation and choices

Have you ever been tempted and believed there was no way out but to give in? I have a dear brother who has been struggling for quite some time with a lot of issues in his life. It is always three steps forward and two steps back. Yet the steps back seem to bite much harder than the victories of moving forward. Despite protection mechanisms we've built into our relationship to help him realize there is a physical way out by calling me and alerting me of his intentions, he circumnavigated the process recently and gave in once again.

OK, so what's the big deal you say. We all stumble in many ways. Isn't that what the book of James says? (James 3:2) Of course it is. And we all fall short. And we are always to forgive. Yes, yes and yes. It is not about the falling short that I'm concerned - though the repeated pattern of failures makes it more difficult to encourage him that there is victory in the end. It is about the lack of asking someone else for help. You see, I've asked him what he needs from me. I've asked him to call me when he's having trouble. The Spirit alerted me to some of his challenges about a week before they happened and despite my many attempts to contact him (email, telephone, text messages) he didn't return my messages. There were many confirming circumstances that this friend was in trouble. And I tried to intercede through prayer and physically intervene. Yet he chose to go another route and make a series of poor choices once again. The damage is done. Two more steps backward. And though he tells me he's renewed his Relationship with Christ and that is going to help, I don't have much confidence.

You see, the Bible tells us that no one has seen God. No one. But if we believe we see God's representatives around us at all times. Those that carry Jesus in their heart are the representation of our Heavenly Father here on Earth. Therefore when we face times of trial or temptation - we should call out to others for help as a way of asking God for help. We pray and pray for deliverance from temptation (when really what we want is a "genie" to make it disappear) instead God has already provided us His hands and feet here on earth. They are other brothers and sisters. And at very least - we should accept the help that is offered to us. But we don't. Pride gets in the way. We want to be independent and slay our dragons all by ourselves. But this will not work. Why not? Because God says all he needs is a broken spirit and a contrite heart. That is the antithesis of pride isn't it?

So while temptation may seem like the dragon you need to slay ... and you attempt to do that by modifying your actions to temptation... perhaps the real dragon you need to kill once and for all is PRIDE. Reach out to others. Call someone else if you're tempted. Respond to a a friends attempt to contact you. Believe that the Spirit speaks to others on your behalf and their attempt to contact you is not only earthly but divine. Failure to rely on others and reach out for help will bite you all the time not because they single-handedly can take away your problem. But because it shows God you have a contrite heart willing to lay down your own pride.

None of us is strong enough to fight it alone... but together - when God's people unite - there is nothing that can defeat God.

Know that if you're reading this - my brother - that I'm willing to serve and assist. You've just got to let me in.