Resisting Temptation When Willpower Won’t Work

By Bennett Rolan – Digital Editor

I am not typically an angry person. I even received the Gentle in Spirit Award as a young Christian camp counselor. But if you scan my browser history, you will find a recently read article titled “Why Has Quarantine Made Me So Angry?” 

And now you know the truth. I am tempted, especially during the past few weeks, to lose my temper with the people I love. But if you are being honest, I imagine you can fill in “Why am I so ______?” with a temptation of your own. 

As we walk through the first weeks of our Genesis study, God not only reveals the origin of our sin, but He gives us insight into how we can crush it before it takes root.  

As an experienced sinner, fighting to follow Jesus, I can confirm that taking a biblical approach to temptation works. 

Recognizing the deceiver

God not only reveals the origin of our sin, but He gives us insight into how we can crush it before it takes root. 

In Genesis 3:1, the serpent begins by questioning God’s Word, “Did God actually say …?” Today, temptation can begin the same way. As our enemy prowls around, he overwhelms us with questions about God’s character and His promises. “Did God actually say He loves you?” “Was Jesus serious when he said, ‘… anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment?’ ” 

In the busyness of daily routines and the grief of living in a fallen world, the tempter’s voice is easily camouflaged. If we are serious about resisting temptation, we have to be sober minded and alert, in tune with the Holy Spirit’s warnings when temptation begins.  

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers describes Satan like this:

“Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things – he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us … namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil.” 

 As the serpent twisted God’s Words and offered Eve “delight” and “desire,” Eve’s point of view shifted. Her focus moved from God to herself. In the next moment, sin was born. 

Standing Firm in the Faith

We all know what happened next. Eve ate the fruit, Adam followed, and humanity desperately needed a Savior. But what could Eve have done differently? Could she have silenced the serpent? 

1 Peter 5:9 tells us to “Resist him, standing firm in the faith …” But what does this look like practically? 

In a commentary by St. Augustine on the book of Mark, he writes, “A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ …”  

To awaken our awareness of Christ, we must seek Him, call to Him and dwell on His attributes. When His Word comes to life, His character washes over us. The reality of God’s nature is more than enough to silence temptation. 

When frustration begins to build, and I turn to God, His mercy and compassion restore peace to my home. If loneliness seeps into the day, we can cling to the One who is faithful and steadfast. When an uncertain future fuels anxiety or fear, we can speak aloud the truth that God is Preserver and Provider.   

When His Word comes to life, His character washes over us. The reality of God’s nature is more than enough to silence temptation.

Making it Personal

So, what temptation can you add to the question, “Why am I so ___?” Reflecting on God’s character, which attributes might awaken your awareness of Christ when the deceiver speaks? 

As a helpful tool, we have compiled a list of God’s attributes with definitions. To deepen your Genesis study, take notice when Scripture reveals an attribute of God. Using the list, note verse references when God’s justice, mercy or sovereignty are evident.  

Finally, let us be “alert and of sober mind,” standing firm in the truth that we are not alone in our temptation. St. Augustine closes his commentary by writing, “When your heart is in this troubled state, do not let the waves overwhelm you … let us not despair but awaken Christ, so that we may sail in quiet waters, and at last reach our heavenly homeland.” 

Borrowing Joy

How One Family Found God’s Joy in Struggle and Sacrifice

By Bennett Rolan – BSF Editorial Manager

For years, Adele and her husband, Loren, sacrificed their time, money and comfort to serve the Lord. While building a community-living apartment complex that provides affordable housing for struggling families, they stood steadfast, even through adversity and opposition from the world.

But, on May 3, 2019, Adele received a phone call that rocked her resolve. 

The Funk’s son Tyler, 30, an experienced snow boarder, was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Adele clung to God’s promises, but in spite of reading her Bible and praying regularly, her joy in the Lord faded.

For years, Adele and her husband, Loren, sacrificed their time, money and comfort to serve the Lord. While building a community-living apartment complex that provides affordable housing for struggling families, they stood steadfast, even through adversity and opposition from the world.

But, on May 3, 2019, Adele received a phone call that rocked her resolve. 

The Funk’s son Tyler, 30, an experienced snow boarder, was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Adele clung to God’s promises, but in spite of reading her Bible and praying regularly, her joy in the Lord faded.

“We were sitting in a church service where the worship was over the top,” she said. “My husband was giddy, but I was irritated. I just kept thinking, ‘How can you be this happy when our son is in a wheelchair?’ At one point my son asked, ‘Mom, are you going to be sad for the rest of your life?’ ”

“It reminded me of the hemorrhaging woman. When she reached out for Jesus, He gave her exactly what she needed.” 

Throughout the Acts and Letters of the Apostles study, Adele and Loren, who is also a BSF member, experienced God’s unstoppable power, grace and provision. And as the year ended with a study of James, the couple was reminded, once again, of unshakable joy, through James 1:2-3: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

A Test of Confidence

Tyler’s injury put to the test Adele’s confidence in Christ. But it was not the first time the couple had to look beyond their circumstances to trust in Jesus. In 2012, while Adele was teaching the Acts study for the first time, God used several verses in James to redirect their life and purpose.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about James 5,” Adele said. “I like to think I’m generous, but God, in His sovereignty, started putting poor people in our lives. They shared their struggles and told us about how they didn’t have a place to live.” 

Two years before, Adele and Loren had sold their long-time home on a golf course to downsize to an upscale condominium in downtown Golden, Colo.

“I felt like God was saying, ‘Think about how many people you could house with the amount you have wrapped up in that condo,’ ” she said.

After praying extensively and re-reading God’s Word, Adele felt certain the couple was called to sell their condo and use the proceeds to build housing for homeless people in their area.

Loren, who co-owned a construction company for most of his professional career, had acquired the expertise and contacts to manage a large-scale project. But as plans progressed, the Funks’ faith was tested.  

While family members and friends continued to question their decision, government regulations made the permit process especially difficult.

“We anticipated starting construction in June and the city threw a horrible list of obstacles in front of us,” Loren shared. “We were both down and depressed. Then we received an e-mail that said, ‘We’ve approved your application.’ I couldn’t believe it. We thought we were doing it on our own. I tried everything in my own power to get it approved, but only God could move the hearts of men.” 

New Beginnings

Later, Loren was unexpectedly diagnosed with liver disease. The finding was a shock, and they wondered why God called them to a building project that seemed ready to fail. But against all odds, Loren recovered.

“I don’t know why that happened, I’m not a smoker or drinker. I’m not one that had any of the normal diseases that caused liver failure, but my liver did fail. Then, a tremendous miracle went on in the process,” Loren said. “It was part of the journey God took us through to get to this point.”

Finally, after years of waiting and work, Synergy Village opened its doors in June 2018. Today, the complex is home to 36 residents, including Adele and Loren, who live in the center of the community. Their son, Tyler, and his wife also moved to Synergy after his accident. The only available unit was handicapped accessible and allowed the Funks to provide extra support during those early days of recovery.

“It’s one of the hardest things you can imagine as a parent, but watching someone suffer well is inspiring,” Loren said. “I know the other residents were watching us, thinking ‘Now, how are these do-gooders going to handle this?’

“In so many ways it’s been a privilege to get to know people on a deeper level that are different than I am,” Loren said. “When we read the Word of God, I hope we realize that there are some things that are not optional. God wants those of us that have been given much to take the responsibility to do well with what we have, to steward well what we have.”

“Taking the Bible at its word has been refining,” Adele said. “If it says I need to do this, I’m one of those people who says, ‘OK, how? And, what is the next step? Send the right person, Lord. And what do you want us to do with what we have?’ ”

Through opposition, illness and a tragic accident, the Funks persevered. They discovered God’s unstoppable joy and, in the process, impacted countless others.