SPIRITUAL, NOT PSYCHOLOGICAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN HARD TEMPTATION
"See, I have refined you, but not like silver; I have tested you in the furnace of adversity, ... Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like ariver, and your success like the waves of the sea." (Isaiah 48:10.17-18)
We often complain about troubles which happen to us. However, we should have in mind that temptations are not bad themselves, but unfortunately very often bad is our reaction to temptations.
The temptations can have a few positive functions:
They can show which motives move us. Remember Job's case (Job 2:3-10). It might be that Satan accuse our motives before God. Temptation is an opportunity to show that it is more important to us to show our obedience (love) to God, than to satisfy our selfishness.
It is a chance to show such spiritual maturity which we have not ever shown; to humiliate our hearts before God, to acquaint the character of the Highest and to check the motives which move us in the light of His face.
The feeling that God accepted us can be spiritual deceit of enemy. If we posed the question to the Pharisee from Jesus' example (Luke 18:10-14): "How are you? How do you feel?", we would probably hear the answer: "Excellent! I fell I am saved! And I am very grateful to God!"
In order to save us from such psychological self-illusion God sometimes permits hard temptations. They will maybe show that we built our spiritual house on sand and not on rock, because when troubles come, such house falls down (Matthew 7:27).
The temptation itself will just help us in a short time to clean our heart from sin completely or to correct the whole system of our relationship with God.
Temptation will last until the moment we overcome it by correct relationship with God or until we despise God's reprimanding and be left in the enemy's hands. When the temptation pass, the person who overcame the temptation and the person who fell usually feel nice. God will not go against our free will, and that is why we should show spiritual maturity while the temptation lasts. There is a time for every thing. There is a time for spiritual fight, and a time for blessings because of the victory in spiritual fight. During the hard temptations, neither Job, nor our Lord Jesus Christ did not look for psychological certainty in the support of other people or angels. Only when Jesus got a victory over the tempter, angels came to serve Him (Matthew 4:11).
That is why, during the temptation, we have to direct all attention of our mind to God and to find in Him the strength of our will.
In ourselves we will find only what discourages us and that is why we must not look at ourselves. Also, our idea of God should not provoke our natural motives, but it should be correct - Biblical, which build our confidence in God.
We should not try to suffocate awareness of the sin by provoking pleasant feelings, because that did not do Biblical persons in temptations. Although the situation is hard, although we cannot be satisfied by ourselves, we can, like tax collector (from Jesus example), become satisfied with God and rejoice at His mercy and goodness.
Psychological certainty is based upon how we feel while we look at God's face, while spiritual certainty is based upon what God's character is like and how much we decided to trust Him.
Be encouraged by the texts which will give you spiritual certainty:
For those who are in temptation to cease their spiritual fight!
Great consolation for those who cry in temptation and sorrow!
The invitation to those who are weary!
"Alas! That day is so great, there is none like it;
      it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall
      be rescued from it!" (Jeremiah 30:7)
The Shaking!
"What should I do to reduce the length of hard temptation?"
For those who are constantly occupied by themselves
      and discouraged by their weaknesses!
The parable of the prodigal son! (On the basis of Luke 15:11-24)
Rejoicing in the Lord!
Meet Jesus through his life from birth to resurrection (ZIP 70 Kb)

TEST YOUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN YOUR VICTORY OVER THE LIFE TEMPTATIONS
The following series of texts is intended to help man to become aware of the very cause of his spiritual problem, so that he should be able to solve it at its root. By testing the basic elements of one's spiritual state, we can check how much one is mature spiritually to respond to the stress of the life in a proper manner.

CHOOSE THE TITLE:

TEST YOUR SPIRITUAL STATE:

1) THE ROOT OF HUMAN SPIRITUAL PATHOLOGY
An extensive explanation of the causes of human spiritual pathology and those of his immaturity in his response to daily life temptations
2) IS YOUR IDEA OF GOD CORRECT?
Whether we really pray to God depends not on a name by which we address Him, but on a credibility of our idea of His character. Many have so distorted idea of God that Holy Spirit cannot communicate with them through that idea.
3) DO YOU USE YOUR WILL PROPERLY IN A TEMPTATION?
God is comprehended by reason, felt by feelings, chosen by will and lived by heart! However, many people try to comprehend God by feelings, to choose Him by a sinful heart and to live Him by their will.
4) A REAL OR PSEUDO-REPENTANCE
Many repent continually and then sin again. They repent not the sin itself, but unpleasant manifestation of sin in their feelings or behavior. Where to find a power for a true repentance, when human nature is so inveterate that it cannot stand God's character?
5) A REAL FAITH OR SELF-CONVICTION
How to build our confidence in God, which would be independent from unpleasant feelings and unpleasant circumstances? What is the difference between emotion of safety and real confidence in God?
6) SIGNS OF IRRECONCILIATION WITH GOD
Many believers are not content with a simple confidence in God, that He accepts them and forgives their sins, but are always looking for a proof of God's approval in their feelings, various miracles and signs following their spiritual life.
7) THE CAUSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
Many people cannot believe, even with their best will, in the Biblical revelation about God having sacrificed his beloved son lest no one believing Him perish, but have an eternal life. What is the reason the news that rejoiced millions of people cannot touch their hearts?

If you have any question of practical spiritual importance, or some "impossible" life difficulties, write to us, and we will be ready to pray for you and to help you.