Our Ever-Present Help in Sexual Temptation
When sinful desires wage war against us, Jesus doesn’t slip away! Instead, he remains close to us as our ever-present help.
To learn more about this topic, consider purchasing How to Say No When Your Body Says Yes: Finding True Satisfaction by Dan Wilson or Sex and the Single Girl: Smart Ways to Care for Your Heart by Ellen Mary Dykas. When you buy these minibooks from Harvest USA, 100% of your purchase will benefit our ministry.
You can also read the blog, Wisdom from Women and Men Engaged in the Daily Battle, which corresponds to this video.
The book Band of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company, a parachute infantry regiment in the US Army during World War II. The heroics of these soldiers, the tight-knit relationships that were formed between them on the battlefield, and the courage they needed to overcome horrific circumstances are truly inspiring. But there are two groups of people in this story that especially impacted me. First, the leaders who really led sacrificially, giving themselves on behalf of their men. And then the other leaders who didn’t lead so well, basically abandoning their men when they most needed them.
Here is a sad and sobering example of a leader who was mostly all talk and little action, deserting those in his care in the midst of battle. Lieutenant Norman Dike was placed in command over Easy Company during the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium. He consistently barked out orders to his men and demanded their loyalty. But there’s one huge problem. Lieutenant Dike often disappeared after issuing orders and was nowhere to be found when the men truly needed him. He had orders, but no detailed warfare strategies for the men to follow. He passionately told them what to do but refused to come alongside them on the front lines during rough winter conditions. He was mostly talk and very little practical engagement when it mattered.
Jesus is such a radically different leader. As our living, resurrected Lord, he stands with us in the midst of battles. In fact, he goes before us into the fray. And yes, he does give commands, and he rightfully expects our loyalty to him. However, when sinful desires wage war against us, he doesn’t slip away. No, Jesus is with us, present with us, as the fulfillment of God’s promise to faithfully offer us rescue from temptation, including sexual temptations. Our Father will always provide a way of escape through the very person of Christ, who dwells within believers.
Here’s how Paul explained this to Christians in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 13 and 14. He said, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
Paul wrote these words to encourage believers in their faith and their battles against temptation. And you know what? Though Paul called temptations common, isn’t it true that so often Christians can sink into shame and discouragement when we encounter a lustful thought? When we are craving the sexual attention of somebody that we shouldn’t be? Or we have desires to go to unholy websites, and all sorts of things that represent temptations of a sexual nature?
Our battle with particular temptations may be lifelong, but it’s a battle that we’re called to engage in through Jesus, alongside other Christians, soldiers, if you will, with whom we stand on the battlefield. God doesn’t promise to take temptation away, but he does promise to be there as a comforter, sustainer, and giver of grace. If we accept that we will probably encounter certain temptations throughout our lives, whatever they may be, we can be pointed toward our constant need of a Savior, a leader who is a friend, who is compassionate, kind, and already in the trenches with us.
You can call out to him today, whenever you need help. And you know, the Psalms are full of examples of how to do this. Consider this portion of Psalm 63, when David said, “You, God, are my God; earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”
Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is with us. He is an ever-present help in the midst of all of our temptations, including those that are sexual. Call out to him. He will hear you, and he will respond.
