“The tempter came to him” (Matthew 4:3).
Temptation is a part of life, and it is especially a part of recovery. There is never a point when the temptations go away. If Jesus never moved beyond the point of temptation, we should not expect to, either. In fact, James (the brother of our Lord) talked about the benefits of temptation, and how they are tests, which when passed, strengthen our walks.
John Bunyan said it as only he could: “Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson, but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.”
As you learn to say no to your addiction, it gets a bit easier the next time. Eventually, you come to view temptation as a “nest of honey.” You see it as your friend, not your arch-enemy. With each temptation comes the opportunity to reject what will hurt you. In the process, you are embracing what grows you.
Your temptation becomes a “nest of honey.”
Recovery Step: Embrace your temptations. See them as a vehicle to a better future.
