Temptation Isn’t Just Something You Escape—It’s Something You Face
We often think avoiding temptation is enough. If we just turn our backs and walk away, we’ll be safe, right? But here’s the hard truth: fleeing without confronting what’s beneath only leads us deeper into the trap. You can’t win spiritual battles by running. You conquer them with patience, humility, and—most importantly—grace.
Surface-level avoidance doesn’t uproot the problem. If we merely sidestep temptation without tackling its core, it circles back—stronger, more persistent, and more damaging. Real progress comes slowly. It’s forged in endurance, shaped by inner strength, and refined through faith.
Just like gold is purified in fire, the soul is tested by temptation. We rarely discover what we’re capable of until we stand face-to-face with the very thing trying to pull us down.
Temptation follows a familiar rhythm: it begins with a passing thought, blossoms into vivid imaginings, feeds emotional reactions, tempts us with fleeting pleasure—until finally, it wins our consent. That’s when it takes hold, not because it was stronger, but because it wasn’t resisted early enough.
We can resist walking through the door of doubt and distrust, not believing or having confidence in the unseen or uncertain or we can walk through the door of faith.
We can resist the door of discouragement, of lack and possibility or we can open the door of hope.
We can resist hardening our hearts, becoming indifferent or emotionally cold and walking through the door of hate, or we can open wide our hearts and choose the door of love.
Resistance grows weaker with delay. But catch it at the door—before it steps in—and you stand a far greater chance of victory and living in Christ’s peace.
Our Father, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. Amen
Smitten With Goodness 