By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Temptation is everywhere. And I don’t only mean temptations in the stereotypical, of-course-that’s-a-sin way. We can be tempted by anything. You could be tempted to ditch the friend you already made plans with because another friend now wants to hang out. It’s rude, but it’s not technically a sin. You could be tempted to eat dessert first. Maybe not the healthiest decision, but again, not actually a sin.

We conflate temptation with sin in a way that trivializes many temptations. If it wouldn’t fall into the sin category, then we convince ourselves that it’s not a temptation either. The reality is that the two are not mutually exclusive. While a single temptation may not itself be a sin, over time, giving into that temptation can lead you down a dangerous path that ultimately ends in sin. Again, not every decision or every individual temptation is sinful, which is why you must remain vigilant to keep yourself from sliding down a slippery slope.

That’s where self-control comes in. Now, let me be honest. Self-control is hard. That’s sort of the point of temptation, though. It’s easy to give in. The good news is that you don’t fight these battles alone. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit because God comes alongside you to give you a boost and encourage you to turn away from temptation. What a beautiful gift. Yes, there is still a level of effort required on your part, but you’re not alone in the battle. God’s on your side. Self-control may sound like an individualist pursuit (it has the word “self” in it, after all), yet God partners with us to produce good fruit and steer clear of temptation.

Resisting Temptation

Sometimes it feels like you’re the only person who ever experienced a particular temptation. I promise you’re not. At some point in history, if not right this second, someone else has been or is being tempted by the very same thing that tempts you. The Bible confirms this! 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” See, it’s not just you. Whatever is tempting you is so common that God recognizes it happens a lot and provides a way of overcoming it.

I hope that thought gives you comfort. Temptation can be overwhelming and there are times when it seems like we’re always going to succumb. I won’t sugarcoat it. Sometimes you will succumb. I have. But not every time. And you won’t succumb every time either. Have hope, friend. God doesn’t call us to be perfect. Let’s leave that to Jesus. What we can do is acknowledge that temptation exists, there are times when we will fail, and there are times when we will succeed. Temptation is a part of life. Trying to avoid temptation in every form at all times is impossible. Overcoming temptation, while admirable, is not always going to happen. Give yourself grace. Take responsibility when you fall into temptation, then dust yourself off and move forward knowing that God still loves you.

Temptation isn’t something you face alone. God is on your side and will guide you towards a better path. That’s what good parents do. They stand by you, loving you anyway, occasionally letting you stumble, but still providing a soft place to land. If that’s what earthly parents do, imagine what God will do! God will not abandon you. It may feel that way sometimes. Or you may turn your back on God. But God will always be with you, encouraging you to make better choices and giving you second chance after second chance.

Training the Muscle that is Willpower

Self-control relies on willpower. God supplements your willpower with the strength of the Holy Spirit, but it still requires effort on your part. One of the best ways to shore up your willpower is by reading the Bible. It’s true! Romans 12:2 encourages it: “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” You renew your mind every time you read God’s Word. It’s a type of cleanser, washing away impurities. But it’s not a one and done. You must add it to your routine, diving into the Word on a regular basis.

Another way to increase your willpower is through prayer. Stay in constant communication with the Savior. Talk to Him when temptation appears, but also when you’re simply going about your day. It will feed your soul. It also builds walls to protect you when temptation calls. And of course, when you’re tempted, pray! Turn to Jesus for strength and support.

The last suggestion I have for you is to find an accountability partner. This could be your mentor, your roommate, someone in your campus Bible study group, anyone who would be available when you need them and is a good listener. They don’t have to be wise, though that’s a plus. The most important thing is that they support you. You don’t necessarily need them to tell you what to do or how to do it. Sometimes all you need is someone to hear you as you talk it out.

Good Fruit

The world is full of temptation. That’s just a fact. We all succumb to temptation sometimes. That’s also a fact. The good news is that with God’s help we can overcome temptation. Every time we exercise our self-control and turn away from temptation, we produce good fruit for all to see and encourage others to follow our example. What’s neat is that other people also set an example for us. Think about who in your life exercises self-control. What can you learn from them?

Give yourself grace when your self-control falters and fails. You’re human. It happens. Focus on how you can make better decisions moving forward and remember that the Holy Spirit resides within you, giving you strength and willpower. Self-control takes practice, but with God on your side, you can do it.

All scripture is from World English Bible, public domain.