Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that temptation isn’t some mystery. We all face it. When temptation hits, know that you’re not alone, that God’s with you, and that there’s always a way out.

#1 You’re not the only one. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” That temptation you think is only yours, the one you think nobody else has dealt with, is common. It’s part of being human. Old Testament, New Testament, your dad, you, your son: we’ve all faced it, are facing it, or will face it.

The danger isn’t the temptation. It’s believing the lie from Satan that you’re alone. You’re not. But, you’ll feel the pull to check out, get away, isolate. That’s where Satan wants you, like a sheep cut off from the herd.

#2 God hasn’t left you. “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability…” Smack in the middle of temptation, God’s with you. Feel overwhelmed? He knows. He’s never far off. He knows what you’re feeling. And He’s not weak.

When you think, “I can’t do this,” that’s actually a decent place to be because it means you’re recognizing you can’t do said thing on your own. That’s the start of humility. The other way is self-reliance, and you know how that goes. In the moment, shift your focus off yourself and onto God.

#3 There’s a way out. “…but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Many times, the way out is simple, but it’s not easy: put the phone down, leave the room, make the call, take the walk, tell the truth. God always gives a way through, but it usually means you have to move.

The issue is rarely that there’s no way out. It’s that we hesitate. We think too much. We rationalize stuff. That pause is where things go wrong. We sit there and talk ourselves into sinning. At least, that’s what I’ve heard friends say 😉

Listen, you don’t need a perfect plan. I’ve never seen one. You just gotta, in those moments, take the next right step, but do so really fast. It’s never really about some secret special plan you don’t have access to, but more about having a quicker step.

Why Guilt Is a Normal Dad-Feeling: Guilt is common. The good news? It means you care. But guilt can lead to a nasty despair spiral if you are not careful.

Do You Own Your Possessions, or Do They Own You? This week, Lawson and I asked the question, “What are you holding onto so tightly that, if Jesus asked you to let it go, you’d walk away sad?” Uncomfortable yet?

Warren Wiersbe: “The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.”

Martin Luther: “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

This week, don’t wait until you’re in some battle. Get ready now. Know where you’re most tempted, and decide what you’ll do when it hits. Then, when it does, don’t sit there and try to be the hero negotiator. Just move. Get yourself out of the way. Get the temptation out in the open before it grows alone in the dark.

Real leadership is allowing God to lead you in those small, quick decisions. Don’t overthink the whole day, the next ten years, or even past mistakes. Just handle this moment well. You’ve got this.

What’s one temptation you need to stop managing and start killing?

There’s always a way out. Take it quickly. You’re not the only one, and God hasn’t left you.

Kent Evans
Author of Don’t Bench Yourself, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.