It was an eyesore. The roof had begun to rot and in the summer weeds grew inside. The white paint that still clung to the wood was flaking off. It was time for the shed to go. My brother and I spent the day, hammer and saw in hand, tearing it down. By late afternoon a sizeable pile of wood lay in the middle of the field. The shed was gone.
Dad wanted to set it ablaze, but he knew the wind would catch it and the fire would spread across the field. He decided to wait.
Early the next morning, coffee cup in hand, mom eyed up the pile. The wind was perfect. She took and lighter from the drawer and looked over at me.
“You want to light it?”
Outside I watched as a whiff of smoke rose lazily into the air as she lit one of the branches.
“Did it catch?” I asked.
“Yes” she said.
I was about to follow her inside, but I waited, watching, just in case.
I stood there looking at the peaceful field, the fence, the houses, the trees. In my reverie I heard the branches crackle. Suddenly, the grass was on fire. It was spreading rapidly in an ever widening diameter. Panic gripped me. I turned and ran for help.
Have you ever been in a situation that was out of control? Sin has the tendency of sending us out of control. Habitual sin is deceptive in the sense that it gives us the impression, especially initially that we are in control and that we can stop at any time. However this illusion soon disappears. We find ourselves returning to the same sin repeatedly, hating ourselves for it. What is the answer?
The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:14 “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” When we received the grace of Christ we became liberated. We don’t need to sin any more! Although we may feel different, in our battle with sin, we are truly never out of control.
The incredible grace we received at salvation motivates us to live righteous life. (Romans 12:1-2) We really have no other right but that of obedience to Christ. We are doubly compelled to live for Christ. We are created by God and owned by him. We are redeemed by Christ and owe our lives to him. Jesus Christ deserves our complete, unconditional surrender.
A simple understanding of these facts will not do anything by themselves to bring us under control of Christ. The facts alone will lead to bondage. Paul understood this when he said “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Paul instantly answers his own question: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
Here Paul gives us the key: Jesus Christ. We have a constant companion, a constant friend, the very presence of Jesus within us! This is a great relief, because without the help of this friend we will always end up in defeat!
When you are driven to sin, overwhelmed by temptation, and feeling out of control, there are two places you should run:
Run to Christ
In Psalm 46:1 it tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God is very near to you. The Holy Ghost is within you. He delights to hear your prayers. He is there to comfort and to give you supernatural power.
When faced with temptation, ask for help from the Lord. Believe that you have been given this power. Whether you feel it or not, act as if this power, this promised grace has been given. Act on what Jesus has said and you will experience victory even when you feel overwhelmed.
Run to Christian friends
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 outlines the importance of friends. A solid close knit band of supportive friends will help you overcome temptation and sin. They can offer accountability, exhortation, encouragement, and prayer.
Do not be ashamed to run to friends when you are feeling overwhelmed! A proud man will resist help from others. An honest man will gladly receive help because he knows his weakness. In James 5:16 says “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Friends are one of God’s precious provisions for victory. Run to them for help!
I ran for the house. Immediately my mom called the fire department. My siblings joined me in the field. Water buckets and towels in hand we stomped, sloshed and beat the flames into subjection. By the time the fire department arrived the fire was under control. Together we fought the fire and won, something that would have been hard, perhaps impossible had been left to fight it alone.
Here is the point: When you are overwhelmed, go for help. You were not created to fight the battle alone and you never need to. In time of trouble run towards help, not away from it.
Will Esayenko is an evangelist from Alberta, Canada. He was trained at Baptist College of Ministry in Menomonee Falls, WI. He traveled twice with Bobby Bosler as a team captain doing youth evangelistic work during his college years. It is his goal to see a new church planting movement established in Western Canada.
