13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.
—The words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 10:17
The plotting of a good novel, or fictional short story, always contains certain elements intended to create a sense of imaginary realism that hopes to emulate ordinary life. Professional writers describe these elements as “supporting the arc of the storyline.”
The elements include the following:
- Introduction
- Rising Action
- Climax
- Falling Action
- Resolution
In addition to these five elements supporting the storyline arc, in order to grab the reader’s attention, somewhere in one of those elements the writer must provide a sixth element:
- The Narrative Hook
The Narrative Hook reaches out and draws the reader into the heart of the story. A properly designed and executed Hook can make the reader believe that he or she has actually become part of the story itself.
A good writer can incorporate these elements in a plausible manner and produce a generally well-received piece of writing. But, a truly excellent writer can incorporate these elements in such a seamless manner that the prose will literally transport the mind of the reader smoothly and forcefully. As a result, the reader will not want to stop reading. In fact, when the story concludes, the reader will likely feel deep regret and a profound sense of loss that the narrative has ended.
If you’ve ever read a story that you simply could not put down, or one that you didn’t want to end, you will understand what I’m describing. Those exact reader reactions motivate countless tens of thousands of writers every day. A writer’s ultimate success comes from achieving the high praise of readers who want the story to go on and on and on.
If you’ve ever read C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories, you will discover a writer’s ultimate triumph. Each of these authors constructed the arc of their storylines in such a way as to compel readers to long for the next book, so that the story might continue. Not only did each story in the series have its own unique and well-constructed storyline arc, the series as a whole had an arc, as well. In the case of both authors, readers flocked to obtain the next book in the series, as soon as the publisher released it for sale. That’s what successful fiction writing is really all about.
Have you ever thought about the fact that each of our spiritual lives has a storyline arc? It does, you know. But, rather than the smooth parabolic arc of good fiction writing, the storyline arcs of our spiritual tales often have some relatively sharp peaks and deep valleys. One of the challenges we each must face deals with how we respond when we find ourselves in those deep valleys.
The Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post comes from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. If you look closely at this chapter, you will discover that Paul has just finished a rather weighty discourse on the fate of God’s chosen people over the span of time. Paul punctuates his description with incidents where some fell into sin and received punishment from God for that unconfessed and unrepentant sin.
Paul concludes his instruction with the words quoted above. In the King James Version, the translators use the phrase “way of escape” in place of the New International Version’s “way out.” Frankly, I like that particular turn of phrase: “way of escape.” It reminds me of some exciting chapter in a favorite bit of imaginary fiction writing:
Young Christian finds himself deeply mired in discouragement. He has struggled to trust the Lord Jesus Christ with every aspect of his life. He has chosen a pathway of obedience. He has spent time in prayer and in the study of God’s Word. He has committed his way to God. He has seen times of great victory in his life.But now, he finds himself in what John Bunyan in
Pilgrim’s Progress called “the slough of despond.” He has lost his job through no fault of his own. He has tried to find work, but the tough economy has erected seemingly insurmountable barriers. He has spent all of his retirement savings, little money as that was. And now, he faces the real possibility that he will lose his home.On top of all of this, he has recently learned that he has a significant health problem. He doesn’t have insurance to pay for the doctors and medicines he will need to get better. He has come to the place where he’s not sure he can take any more. What is he going to do?
You may be experiencing something similar in your own life right now. Or, maybe you’re one who has been most fortunate throughout your life. You really haven’t had it so bad, at least compared to many others you’ve heard about. No matter what your particular situation, it’s important for you to know that God only tests you—or tempts you—just so far. At that moment when you don’t think you can take one more moment of the particular peril that surrounds your life. BAM!! A way out will appear!
Yes! God will always provide a means of escape. Why? Because He has promised to do so in the very Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post. God will never test you beyond the point that you are able to bear the testing. When you reach the point beyond which you would utterly break, God will open up a pathway of escape. He will give you a way out.
God, our God of Love, loves you so much that He will not set aside the testing that comes from living in a world cursed by sin. But, He has promised to send His Holy Spirit to dwell within you and to lead you and guide you every step of the way along the road of your life.
So, take heart. The escape hatch lies just around the corner of the particular testing you now endure. And, God even walks with you along those few more steps that you must take to reach the way out He has provided for you.
Will you pray with me?
Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our Savior. Thank you for giving us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us. We rely on the Spirit’s tender care, as we make our way through this current time of testing.
We walk confidently forward in the knowledge that You have promised You would not test us beyond the point we are able to bear that testing. We draw our hope and strength from knowing that You have provided a way out for us.
Thank You for being Who You are. And, thank You for hearing our prayers, as we talk with You in and through the mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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