Finding Strength in God After Admitting to Weakness

Posted on Nov 02, 2021 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Cindy Beall

Most of the time, our challenges come at us gradually. It’s seduction at its finest, really. I’ve never had a man walk up to me and ask me to go to a hotel with him to engage in sexual activity. If that were ever to happen, I would probably laugh and say, “Nice try, Satan” and walk away. It wouldn’t have interested me in the slightest. That’s not my gig. I suppose there are encounters that might happen that way, but I’ve learned that the tactics of our spiritual enemy are far more subtle than that.

When Chris and I were at a previous church, there was a man who gave compliments to me almost every time he saw me. He would tell me how nice I sang or how pretty I was or that I was a wonderful person. At the time this was happening, the distance between Chris and me was broadening by the minute. I didn’t know what was happening in his life. All I knew is that the Grand Canyon was forming between us. My need for Chris’s admiration, love, support, and devotion was at an all-time high. He was not fulfilling those needs, so I allowed this man to do so with his kind words.

Nothing ever happened. There were never any phone calls, e-mails, or other secret communications between him and me. It was just when I saw him at church events. I’m ashamed to admit that I looked forward to seeing him. I made sure I was wearing something cute or that my hair was adorned a certain way. I was starving for attention from my husband, and when he didn’t provide it, I willingly received it from this man. Thankfully, this man never made any suggestions to me about a physical encounter. (If that’s not an example of “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” I don’t know what is.)

Peter gives us an eye-opening description of what Satan does on a daily basis. He’s out there. He’s just waiting to find someone who is not paying close attention. When he sees an opening, he strikes: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring

lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Satan would have loved nothing more than for me to give in to those compliments from the man who was not my husband. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I could have easily gone down that path had I not realized what was happening. But I did pay attention. I knew that although my husband was physically present in my life, he was emotionally absent for a long period of time. Many would say that it’s understandable that I would have found a counterfeit source to meet my needs. But that’s not the standard I hold myself to. I firmly believe that even when others sin against us, we don’t have a license to sin back. When we get revenge or try to play a part in other's “getting what they deserve,” we are sinning against God and breaking His heart first and foremost.

During this time, I told my trusted friend Ana-Maria what was happening.

She was concerned for my marriage and me and was faithful to join forces and pray. She also held me accountable. That was key. She challenged me to honor the covenant I made and encouraged me with the truth of God’s Word. Eventually, I began to fill my mind with

things of God and allowed God to become the source of the emotional strength I needed.

I couldn’t avoid the man altogether, but I managed to have very few contacts with him. When we did see each other, and he said something nice, I literally began to feel sick. The compliments became unattractive to me, and I no longer desired hearing them, nor did I make an effort to see him. What’s interesting is that this man wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous or anything like that. I wasn’t even really attracted to him. But I was attracted to what he was saying to me.

It was extremely hard work to fight that battle. To pay close attention to the spiritual attack that was all around me took every bit of my energy. Sometimes I just wanted to sit down and do nothing. But I had to take the high road because, even in the midst of it all, I realized what was at stake. So, I made the choice to feed my spirit, which in turn caused my flesh to starve.

Only when you are aware of your weaknesses, your longings, and your unmet needs can you strive for healthy, healing answers like God’s leading, connections with your spouse, and accountability with friends. By feeding your spirit and knowing yourself, you can overcome the

temptations that can and will come your way.

Take time to examine your heart. It’s amazing—we long to have our significant other know us intimately and truly, and yet many of us have not done the work to uncover our true selves and needs. No wonder we blame the other person when something does go wrong. But in the end,

it isn’t a whole, abundant life. Get to know yourself—you just might discover many other exciting wonders and dreams in that heart of yours.