Battling Temptation in Recovery: What Did Jesus Do?

Welcome to the Recovered Christian Podcast. This is Suzanne, and today I want to talk about temptation. Temptation, I think, is the number one thing that stands in the way of so many of us in recovery and, honestly, people in general between us and a healthy, happy life. 1 Corinthians 10, verses 12 to 13, say so if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to mankind, and God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. So what is temptation? The dictionary says temptation is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise, and I would agree with that definition. I've had way too many desires through the years to do something wrong or unwise, something harmful, something I know is wrong and not good for me. Temptations, cravings, gosh I hate those and urges are all too common during active addiction and early recovery. The longer you're in recovery, the less they happen. But it takes time to get there and in the meantime we need to know how to handle the temptations that threaten to derail us. Figuring out your triggers is really helpful. Are you tempted by certain places or activities? I was big time. I remember the first time I went to the beach sober I cried. I loved sitting on the beach with a glass or two or five of wine. It was one of my very happy places, or at least I thought it was. And then I couldn't do that anymore and I wanted it so badly for about 30 minutes. Someone told me early in my recovery that cravings last no more than 30 minutes. To just hang on for that long and it would pass. 30 minutes can feel like an eternity at the beginning, when every fiber of your body, every thought in your head is screaming at you. But like so many things in recovery, if you hang in there and don't give in, it will pass. Sitting on my porch, riding on our boat, going to parties, there were lots of situations and places that were hard for me at first. Being bored is also another biggie for me. I like to be busy, I need to be busy, and when I go through an extended period where I'm not, I know I'm not in the healthiest place. Even today, seven years into recovery, I pay attention to that. Situations, places, events are not a problem for me anymore. I've built enough sober muscle memory that I barely remember crying about my first sober beach trip, but being bored will always be the thing I need to guard against. So how about you? What are your triggers and what can you do to neutralize them? The good news is we don't have to do it alone. Our Bible verse today tells us that God is faithful and will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. The truth is that temptation will not kill you, but addiction will. He also tells us that he will show us a way out so that you can endure. One thing that worked for me every single time was to tell the devil to get behind me in Jesus' name. In Matthew, chapter 4, when Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil, he said Get out of here, satan. Jesus spoke directly to the devil, and so must we. Too many Christians think that they should pray about the devil and ask God to deliver them from his attacks, but the Bible is clear. God has given the authority to believers to resist the devil. If you are feeling tempted, tell the devil to leave you alone and call on the name of Jesus for protection. It works. So what else can we do to avoid temptation and stay on the right path? Well, we can stay grounded in God's word. You know, the Bible isn't just a book. It's living and breathing and speaks to our souls. Make it a habit to meditate on Scripture daily. When temptation knocks, having the word embedded in your heart serves as a shield. Back to when Jesus was tempted. He countered every temptation with Scripture. It's not just about memorizing verses, but understanding their depth and letting them guide your choices. We can pray and have community. The power of prayer is immeasurable. When tempted, turn to God in prayer. Seek his strength and guidance and don't overlook the strength found in community. Share your struggles with trusted friends or mentors. Being open about your challenges helps lighten the load and invites support, encouragement and accountability. We can also practice self-control, as much as I hate saying those words. Developing self-discipline as key. Recognize your triggers and patterns, whether it's avoiding certain places, like we just said, or setting boundaries and relationships. Exercising self-control helps create a buffer against temptation. Remember, saying no to immediate gratification often means saying yes to long-term blessings and growth. And don't we just love immediate gratification? I mean our whole world does. But we need to learn to say no and we can embrace grace and imperfection. We're human and we stumble. It's crucial to understand that slipping up doesn't define us. God's grace is so abundant. If you falter, don't wallow in guilt and please, please, don't give up. Instead, run into the arms of Jesus, seek forgiveness and press on in your recovery journey. Each setback is an opportunity for growth and a reminder of our continual need for God's strength. The road to recovery is rarely a straight line. It's usually full of potholes and pitfalls and turns and off-road excursions. Don't let us stumble, ruin anything. Pick yourself back up and keep going. It's the only way to get to the other side. Let's pray. Dear Lord, thank you for your unfailing love and the guidance found in your Word. Grant us the strength to resist temptation and the wisdom to seek you in moments of weakness. Help us to remember the example your son set when he was tempted and help us to have the same strength he did. May your grace sustain us through our imperfections and your faithfulness always shine a light before us to show us the way. In Jesus' name, amen. Remember, friends, you are not alone in your struggles. God is just a breath, a thought, a whispered cry for help away. Stay anchored in his Word, tuck it away in your heart and let your loving Father help you on your journey to a recovered life. You'll never regret it. I thank you so much for being here today and I will see you next time. Thank you so much for listening. I hope your bite-sized devotion today was very satisfying. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be honored if you'd leave a review or a rating. We are new, so every little bit helps me bring the Word to the world. I'd love to get to know you better at our Facebook group, the Recovered Christian. I'll put a link to it in the show notes. So thanks again for being here and I will see you next time.