The way out

1 Cor 10:13 Amp For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [b]adjusted and [c]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [d]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

Here in simpler terms of NLT

1 Cor 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure

What we go through in the daily things of life is no different than what even unbelievers may go through. The trials and tribulations of life is what all of man may experience in this fallen world. Therefore, scripture says that no temptation or trial is beyond human resistance. Scripture states God will not allow the temptation beyond what we can stand or beyond our ability and strength. Therefore, life is a choice. 

When temptation, trials, or tribulation comes upon our lives, our natural reaction is to run or get away from such things. After all, we think and believe this is how scripture assure us. In the amplified it states, "provide the way out (means of escape to a landing place" and the NLT version states it as "a way out." But we must finish the whole sentence and understand the CONTEXT. 

If we read in proper context and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can see that the "means of escape" or "a way out" is not actually to be taken out of the situation but  a help to go through it. The last sentence in the amplified is " that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently." The means of escape is not to taken out of the situation but a help to BEAR UP UNDER IT PATIENTLY. In the NLT version, "so that you can endure."

When tests, trials, and tribulations come upon us, God is not looking for us to run or necessarily be taken out of the situation, God is expecting us to endure, persevere, and be patient as we wait for HIM and as we die to ourselves. Scripture says the road to heaven is a road of trials and tribulations. We must learn to go through them rather than running from them.

Acts 14:22 (NLT) where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

What are the means of escape for a landing place? What is the way out? This is a spiritual landing place within the physical tribulation. For example, when times are very hard, God may send you a mentor to guide you through. HE may send you revelation, knowledge, or wisdom. HE may grant you spiritual gifts to find relief with HIM. As one endure and prays, HE will give you HIS strength and HIS courage to continue. We are allowed to go through such circumstances so that we die to ourselves and learn not to rely on ourselves but HIM. When we try to bear or endure with our own strength, we run out of patient, endurance, and we may feel like wanting to DIE. When you feel like you want to die and you ask God to just take you out, then know that you have been relying on your own strength and power and not HIS. When we want to just quit, give up, or die, we are relying on ourselves and not on HIM. We must discern our situations. 

2 Cor 1:8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,[b] about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

In order for God to teach us to rely on HIM, HE must allow us to go through tribulation so that we may learn not to rely on ourselves. As we go through hardships, we exhaust all avenues and options of our own strength and power to learn that we must completely rely on HIM and thus putting our faith in HIM rather than the physical things of Egypt. 

The means of escape or the way out is HIM. Whatever difficult situation you may be experiencing, you must stop looking at your situation but use such time to draw closer to HIM. You must spend more time with HIM. You must be willing to give up everything for HIM. You must read, pray, and worship more. You must learn to rely on HIM willing to risk everything putting your trust in HIM. The relief from your hardship or tribulation may not come overnight. It may take a long time in fact. But you must REJOICE and learn to endure. Ask for HIS joy to sustain you. And through difficulties you will learn patience and endurance, to develop character, to the hope of your salvation.

James 1:3-4 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

Romans 5:3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4 And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [c]character (approved faith and [d]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [e]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

God bless

Pastor Steve Yong Kim