Let’s Wait Awhile

Amy felt confident about her decision to go to Joey’s apartment that night to watch a movie. Yes they would be alone, but it was just a comedy with no risqué content. Since they both shared the same values, they both had agreed to practice sexual purity before marriage. As a result, Amy felt comfortable that they would be strong enough to withstand any temptation.

As the evening progressed, she sat enjoying the movie and of course Joey’s company. Towards the end of the movie, Joey caught her hand and stroked it softly causing feelings inside her to stir. She felt convicted in her spirit to leave but she was enjoying the evening and the closeness with Joey and she just didn’t want it to end, at least not yet. She decided to stay.

As the movie ended, Joey and Amy shared a romantic moment that quickly evolved. As they began kissing, those feelings within Amy started again and she felt herself being drawn into a more passionate embrace. She wanted more and she knew he did too. Her mind was racing to justify her actions —- why not just give into the moment, she thought…..after all they were engaged and would soon be married anyway.

In spite of the many thoughts swirling about in her mind, Amy abruptly pulled away from Joey, choosing to follow her strong convictions. The moment was awkward and it was evident that Joey was a bit perturbed, at first. Shortly after however, Joey gave her a look of understanding and remarked-:

“I love you and I wanna do the right thing for you and for us…it’s just hard sometimes……….…I’m just glad you were strong for both of us tonight”

He leaned over to grab the phone saying “Let’s get out of the house….see which of our friends wants to hang out tonight.”

One of satan’s ploys is to make us think that we are strong enough to withstand temptation. Now, he is right about that, but ONLY if we are depending totally on God’s strength and not our own:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV): No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

It gets more challenging, however, to heed God’s prompting when our emotions are involved, as Amy and Joey learned. While it must have been difficult for Amy, she stood firm in her convictions and pulled away.

James 4:7 (NIV): Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.