Our temptations and falls

We need to know how to handle our temptations and falls. In these days of massive confusion, many people do not know how to deal with them such that they fall into all sorts of predicaments that many times are useless, unnecessary or of little importance, like sadness, depression and discouragement.

Temptations and falls are very likely to happen to any of us at any time. No matter how holy one feels to be, these possibilities are always around. Christ himself warned us about them, but he also reassured us not to worry much about them.

“In the world you will have affliction. But take courage, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) I suppose Christ refers here more to our moral afflictions than to our physical or natural ones.

St. Paul reiterates the reassurance. “For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure.” (2 Cor 4,17)

Conclusion, let’s just take it easy when we are tempted or, worse, when we fall. There is always hope. As long as we do our part also, it will never be the end the road for us when these things happen. On the contrary, they can occasion greater developments for us.

This is how God, our Creator and ever-loving Father, deals with us. Again, St. Paul expresses this wondrous divine love and mercy for us: “He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how has he not also, with him, given us all things?” (Rom 8,32) Let’s chew on these words really well!

Fact is temptations are a normal occurrence. It only shows we are human, made of body and soul that generates a continual tension that in turn occasions temptations. This, plus the fact that we have devils to contend with, and the allurements of the world that has gone astray due to our own sinfulness also.

Temptations do not deserve our anger or irritation. In fact, when they come, we just have to laugh at them, because anger and irritation, aside from being signs of pride, only facilitate the work of the devil or the sting of our flesh in us.

Neither should we be surprised when they come—and in a very intense way at that—when we try to earnestly lead a holy life, since that is the usual logic of our wounded flesh and the devil. The closer we are with God, the wilder they also become.

Let’s always remember that God is always in control. If temptations come, it must be because God allows them. And if he allows them, it must be because something good can be derived from them. He will never allow temptations to come to us without any purpose, and without giving us the necessary grace to tackle them.

Temptations are God’s way of calling us to be with him more closely. “He who is not with me is against me. He who does not gather with me, scatters.” (Lk 11,23) These words should always be present in our mind, so we don’t allow our thinking to stray into purely human reasoning that can be impressive but lacks this truth from God.

With respect to our falls and sins, we need to remember that these too can happen to us. And again let’s remember that no amount of dirt that a child can have can prevent his mother or father from cleaning him.

And in front of God, we are always children, trying to behave well, but failing to do so from time to time. He will never be scandalized by our falls. If we react to them well, that is, with humility, we can make those falls the deeper foundation on which to rebuild our stronger spiritual edifice.

Remember again St. Paul saying, “It’s when I am weak that I am strong.” Saints, following the example and logic of Christ, know how to convert all forms of human frailty and failures into shining moments of greatness, leading death to the resurrection.

To be able to do so, we need to be humble and sincere to accept our weaknesses and falls, calling them by their names, and asking for forgiveness always. God always forgives no matter how much we feel we abuse his goodness.

So, there’s really no reason to get stuck with sadness, depression, and must less discouragement. These reactions and states of mind and soul can be nothing other than expressions of our pride that erodes our faith and trust in God.

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