How easy is it for you to talk to God about your temptations? (I’m talking about those temptations and struggles you face that you hesitate telling other people about, let alone God.) We know that God is already aware of our struggles, but many of us still often have great difficulty specifically talking to God about them.
Part of me was afraid of what would happen if I admitted to continually being tempted by things I knew He didn’t want me to have any part of. Even when I didn’t act on the temptation, the shame I felt made it difficult to even say certain words out loud. I was so disappointed in myself, and I didn’t even want to think about how God felt about it all.
I will never forget the day I finally admitted my temptations and failures to God out loud. Before then, I was never able to specifically say what I struggled with out loud to Him.
Little by little, when I was finally able to specifically say out loud to God (for example), “I am really struggling with the temptation to look at porn right now. Please help me.” This is when I realized He wanted me to talk to Him about the temptations I faced.
Eventually, confessing my temptations very specifically like this turned into conversations with Him that drew me in closer to Jesus. The shame I felt started to lessen, and this caused me to go to Him much quicker when I felt tempted the next time (allowing me to resist the temptation earlier).
God isn’t disappointed in us for being tempted; instead, He invites us to talk with Him about the situations we find ourselves in.
Temptation isn’t a sin. Jesus was tempted and did not sin. It’s what we do with the temptations that matter.
Do you have a temptation or struggle that you have been afraid or embarrassed to talk to God about? Has shame has kept you from being able to verbalize it out loud to Him?
Have you been able to be transparent with God about the struggles you are facing?
I encourage you to talk with Him about those very things that you hesitate even saying out loud. Doing this will start to break down walls of shame, and it will allow you to begin building intimacy with Jesus. You can trust Him with your temptations. He wants to help you.
He is pursuing you! He knows everything you have been dealing with and is pursuing your heart. God is not disappointed in you for being tempted. He is inviting you today to bring your temptations to Him, instead of dealing with it in shame without Him. He loves you and is not ashamed of you. He is the one who can help.
He wants you to be transparent with Him, so He can begin to heal your heart and set you free.
