A Way Out
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Escape rooms became popular in the mid-2010s. By 2017-2019, they had become a staple for team building, date nights, and tourist attractions. The premise of an escape room is to be locked in a space and to work together as a team to solve a story and escape the room within a certain amount of time. The ones locked in the room work puzzles and uncover clues, using their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as the countdown creates urgency and excitement. I have participated in three escape room scenarios. Each of these three times, the group that I was working with completed the task and escaped before time ran out. But unfortunately, I was not much help. If I had to do one of these rooms by myself, I would be doomed. I find them extremely difficult and nerve-racking.
Temptation is a common thread in the human experience. It first appears in Scripture only a few chapters into the human narrative. Read it for yourself now in Genesis 3, where Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the form of a snake in the Garden of Eden. Since then, every place, condition, relation, and enjoyment abounds with it. Each of us is faced with different temptations. What tempts me may not tempt you.
Though Satan is a deceiver, God is true and faithful. Our strength and security are in Him. Today’s key verse offers more than just solidarity; it offers hope. God doesn’t promise the removal of temptation, but He does promise two powerful truths: He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and He will provide us a way out of our temptations! We are not left on our own to figure this out. If so, we would have no way out.
Read Matthew 4:1-11. In these verses, Jesus was tempted in the desert, and God allowed an escape for Him. We see Jesus's humanity and His reliance on God's word in the face of temptation. The passage also highlights the nature of temptation itself, showing how the devil tries to deceive us by exploiting human desires and causing doubts about our identity and purpose. The good news: Jesus did not give in to the temptations, and we can do the same! There is always an escape, a way to persevere without sinning in whatever difficult situation we find ourselves in.
So, what does this escape look like?
It may be a literal step away, removing yourself from the situation: choosing to turn off the screen, walk out of the room, leave the conversation. Joseph ran away from temptation with Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39.
It may be a mental redirection, letting go of negative, harmful ideas: replacing lies with truth, fear with faith, or anger with patience. Joshua had big shoes to fill when he took over for Moses, and God gave him the strength to overcome his fear and boldly lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. In Joshua 1:9, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous.
Sometimes, the escape may be praying that God will give you endurance and clarity in the middle of a temptation so that you can say ‘no’ when your flesh wants to say ‘yes.’ Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which is ours as believers, and one of these is self-control. It may also be to follow Jesus’ example and quote Scripture and cling to Truth in times of temptation.
Keep in mind that you are not alone in your struggle, and you are not the first or the last to face it. You are never without options in the face of temptation. The enemy wants you to feel trapped. But God promises there is always a way out. Not because you are strong, but because He is faithful. And, if you do give in to temptation, Jesus is there with grace and forgiveness!
Call to Action
With what temptations are you struggling?
Which of the steps noted above to help you find an escape are you willing to take?
Digging Deeper
Read these additional verses: James 1:13-15, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 26:41, Luke 22:40, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Hebrews 2:18, James 4:7.
Prayer
God, help us to seek You when tempted. Show us the way of escape You’ve already prepared.
Copyright © 2025 Kyle Cravens
