But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)
When I sin, I feel far away from God, and when I’m far away from him, I sin. The whirlpool goes round, sucking me down. Each time I repeat my vices, I’m pulled further in.
I pray for release from of the whirlpool of temptation, but my heavenly Father has a different plan. First, he teaches me that temptation is not sin, and living within its tug will make me stronger because of the fight.
During his sinless thirty-three years on earth, Jesus didn't leave the whirlpool. He felt its pull when Satan baited him in the desert. The whirlpool caused his prayerful struggle to accept the cross. Our forerunner demonstrated that wholesale escape from temptation is not Father’s purpose for this stage of life.
The vortex froths white at the safe horizontal top, and black at the dangerous vertical bottom. Deep inside the funnel’s walls, failure is a certainty. When I loiter in those lower regions, and tell myself it’ll never get a complete hold on me, it’s already too late.
The key to success isn’t escape from temptation, but in living within reach of heaven’s assistance. Up there risky indulgences can’t master me. For now, I have to live somewhere inside the whirlpool, but I don’t have to surf the wall.
Prayer: Holy and beautiful light, I choose to live near you today.