Some of the godliest people have failed God miserably. One such example was David, a man after God’s heart.
David was sorely tempted, fell into adultery, lied and then murdered an innocent man. I’m sure that when the prophet Nathan exposed him, Satan was convinced David was down for the count. He expected him to throw up his hands and say, “What’s the use? I have disgraced God. I have committed the very sins I preached against. God can never use me now. My heart is too black.”
How wrong Satan was. Listen to David’s cry after he repented. “The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18, NKJV). David was tempted and tried, but God did not turn him over to Satan’s power.
Beloved, if the devil comes at you with powerful temptations, it is not always because your heart is wicked. He could be attacking you because you have turned to the Lord. He is bringing fiery trials of lust and temptation against you to try to destroy your faith.
Paul encourages faithful believers, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
You may be discouraged because the enemy has come against you like a flood. The attack could be through temptation, lust, marriage problems or a financial crisis. You may be saying to yourself, “Here I am trying to serve the Lord. I am doing my best to be faithful to him, but things keep getting worse. Is there something wrong with me? Why do my problems keep piling up?”
I urge you to look to your right, your left, in front of you and behind you. Everybody is going through something. Behind the smiles of your dear brothers and sisters in Christ are many tears. They are hurting with trials you know nothing about. You are not alone in your suffering, and your trial is not some strange circumstance. What you are going through is common to multitudes. Hold tight to God in prayer and remember Paul’s encouraging words, “God is faithful.”