"Unprecedented Temptations"

CASE 7: "I've never read in the Word of God, nor have I ever known a child of God, as tempted and abandoned by God as I am; and since no saint's situation is like mine, I can't help but conclude that I don't belong to their group."

Answer: This objection arises for some due to their lack of knowledge of the Scriptures and the experiences of other Christians. In this case, it is helpful to discuss the issue with an experienced Christian friend or a spiritual leader. This has brought peace to some individuals when they've discovered that their seemingly unique situation has actually been experienced by other believers. The Scriptures provide examples of severe temptations faced by the saints. Job was tempted to blaspheme; Asaph was tempted to believe that being religious was pointless, which would have led him to abandon his faith (Psalm 73:13). Even Jesus himself was tempted to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple and worship the devil (Matthew 4:6-9). Moreover, many children of God have not only faced, but have also succumbed to very serious temptations for a time. Peter denied Christ (Mark 14:71), and Paul forced even the saints to blaspheme when he was a persecutor (Acts 26:10-11). Many believers can testify to severe temptations that have shocked their spirits, made their bodies tremble, and weakened them physically. Satan's fiery darts can cause great damage and require a determined effort to extinguish them by actively using the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). Sometimes Satan's attacks are so relentless that a person must continuously resist the devil's onslaught, just as someone would struggle to put out fires continuously set by an enemy intent on burning their house down. However, these dreadful temptations aren't sins of the person being tempted unless they give in and consent to them. If they don't consent, the blame will be placed solely on the tempter and won't be attributed to the person being tempted, just as a chaste man isn't held responsible for a child left at his doorstep. Even if neither a spiritual leader nor a fellow believer can relate to your situation, you shouldn't assume that your case is unique or lose hope. It's unreasonable to expect that every spiritual leader or believer has experienced all possible situations that a child of God may face. Some people's struggles may be known only to God and their own conscience, remaining hidden from others. Although the Scriptures provide suitable guidance for every situation a child of God may encounter, complete with a sufficient number of examples, it's unrealistic to expect the Scriptures to contain perfect examples of every specific situation that saints may experience. Therefore, even if you can't find a case like yours in the Scriptures, bring your situation to the Word, and you'll find appropriate remedies prescribed for it. Focus on using Christ to address your situation, who has a remedy for all ailments, rather than searching for a precedent. Even if someone were to show you an example of your situation in an undeniable saint, it wouldn't guarantee you relief. A troubled conscience might still find differences between your situation and that of the example, and if you demand a perfect match to be satisfied, it may be impossible to reassure you. People's situations, like their physical appearances, can have similarities but also subtle differences that set them apart. In conclusion, if you find in yourself the signs of regeneration from the Word, you should believe that you're in a state of grace, even if your situation seems unique, which is unlikely.

-Thomas Boston