Overcoming When Tempted and Tried
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
We have begun the season of Lent, a season of penitence and fasting; we observe this season by heightened self-examination and repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial, and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. We remember the Lord’s perseverance in the wilderness experiences at the beginning and the end of his ministry; he came out victorious! Prepare for baptism – for those who are not yet – and for all the baptized, prepare to renew your baptismal vows, so we will all experience the resurrection triumph with Jesus Christ.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness! A good God leading his son to suffering! Wilderness situation of our day could be various sufferings – sickness, pandemics, financial difficulties, bereavements, or challenging relationships. In such circumstances and in Lent, we are called to humble ourselves before God and seek him earnestly prayer, self-denial with hopeful expectation. Such seasons and discipline can actually have good end results.
This season reminds me of bitter herbal medicine that mother administered to me whenever I showed signs of malaria – a very unpleasant taste, yet just a few days later my body would feel much better and stronger. Or think about the athlete who goes up the mountain to do training: the air there is thinner and the lungs have to work harder – it is painful and demanding; but with that training discipline, the athlete is built for better success in the plains. So is harsh spiritual discipline; it may be painful today, but the results will be sweet and lastingly pleasant.
How do we overcome when tempted and tried? Jesus was tempted by the devil at a time when he was hungry and weak. This was real testing! We overcome by focusing on God’s will and refusing to succumb under the three temptations: the temptation to be relevant, the temptation to be powerful, and the temptation to be spectacular. These were the three temptations of Jesus Christ, as explained by Henry Nouwen. In each of the instances, Jesus used the Word of God to answer the devil and prefer God’s will to the enticing worldly demands. The disciplines emphasized in this season – the disciplines of contemplative prayer, confession and forgiveness, and a deeper study of God’s Word and theological reflection are the means by which we are able to overcome these ever-present temptations.
The assurance we have is that God is with us. He was with the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai; He was with Jesus in the Judean desert, and He has promised us never to leave us, never to forsake us. As we look to Jesus who was tempted in every way, yet without sin, we will surely overcome as He did.
God bless you all.