No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I realized today that there is nothing special about my life. No, I did NOT say there was nothing special about ME…just my life. Anybody’s life, for that matter. At any given moment, your kid could vomit all over you, get the terrible kind of diaper rash that bleeds, have a fender-bender or a flat tire, or the washer starts spewing water all over the floor, or all of your kids take turns keeping you up half the night, or you and your hubby/wifey picks the scab of that same old fight you can’t get rid of, and you spend most of your day praying for it to be over.
I was getting a teensy bit “woe is me-ish” this week. Then I remembered that my stinky, yucky days look an awful lot like everyone else’s. Even my stroke doesn’t make me special, because EVERYONE has that “thorn in the flesh” that they pray every day would just vanish.
The verse doesn’t say “ no PROBLEM has overtaken you”, because the problem really isn’t the “problem”. You get me? It’s more about our reactions and responses, or our temptation to act in such a way that you end up dishonoring yourself and God.
But this verse also reminds us that everyone struggles…we are not alone in our fight just to get through the day with a little more patience and love than the day before. And it also reminds us, so gently, that God is FAITHFUL, and He knows just how much each of us can withstand, and will not allow it to go past that point. To that, I sometimes think, “Ummm, God, you must have me confused with someone else. This is too much!”
Today, I am practicing that last part of the verse. I’m looking for the “escape button”, so I can get through these days. Maybe that button is talking to a trusted friend, or escaping into His word, or maybe it is just praying for clear vision about what is happening, remembering that it is a battle, “not of flesh and blood, but of principalities and darkness…”.
So, if you’re feeling singled out in this life because of all the struggles that find you, please know that God is faithful, and is keeping you. Oh, and don’t forget: YOU AIN’T SPECIAL! I mean that in the nicest way. : )
Back To The Beginning 
I certainly tend to have the woe-is-me attitude, but I’m discovering ways to get out of it. I’m glad I’m not special 😉
My, my, my, that first paragraph is a doozie! And oh, how true! As a matter of fact, I’ve had that same kind of week. I shared a post on Facebook last week that showed a baby with a plunger over its entire little face with the verse about asking God to set a guard over our lips 🙂 That was me! Help me Lord not to say something stupid!
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and reminding us that we are what we are and His strength is made perfect in our weakness!