We tend to think of temptation as inherently sinful, something to resist at all costs. But the Bible reveals a more nuanced perspective. While self-control is vital, it also presents situations where yielding to certain desires, in the right spirit and context, can lead to personal growth, stronger relationships, and a deeper understanding of God’s grace.
1. Give in to the temptation to rest.
We praise those who burn the candle at both ends, but that leads to burnout, Mayo Clinic points out. Think of Sabbath rest not as laziness, but as a deeply sacred act. Recharge physically, mentally, and spiritually – it’s the only way you can keep being truly productive and loving the world the way God intended.
2. Yield to the temptation to delight in creation.
We treat the world like a treadmill, rushing to the next thing without truly seeing. Carve out time to slow down. Inhale the scent of those flowers, study the intricate design of a spider web, watch a fiery sunset without taking a single picture. It recalibrates your entire perspective, awakens your sense of wonder, and puts you in touch with a creative power bigger than yourself.
3. Give in to the temptation to forgive.
Clinging to anger feels like you’re in control, but really, it controls you. Forgiveness isn’t about condoning their actions, it’s about releasing the poison those actions created inside you. It’s a long process, often messy and painful, but the freedom on the other side is unlike anything else.
4. Surrender to the temptation to put other people first.
Our default setting is self-preservation. But when you make someone else’s problems your problem (even for a little while), you discover a different kind of power. Tutor the student who’s struggling, bake cookies for the lonely neighbor, simply listen without offering solutions – it ripples outward, changing the world in ways you can’t even measure, and reflects the heart of Christ.
5. Indulge the temptation to be authentically yourself.
The pressure to fit in is relentless, but trying to be a carbon copy of others drains your soul. Own your weird passions, your unique sense of style, the parts of you that don’t fit the mainstream mold. That’s the version of you God created on purpose, and the version the world actually needs!
6. Give in to the temptation to feel deeply.
We numb ourselves with distractions – scrolling, Netflix, always busy to avoid the hard emotions. But there’s no healing without the rawness. Ugly cry in the shower, vent to a trusted friend, write in a journal with messy scribbles. God isn’t afraid of your anger, your sadness, your despair. Letting those emotions be fully seen and felt is the first step towards transformation.
7. Surrender to the temptation to ask for help.
Pride whispers, “You should handle this yourself.” Vulnerability, however, is true strength. Reach out to the friend who always offers a listening ear, consider therapy if it’s a deep struggle, even a heartfelt prayer for help is the beginning of change. We weren’t designed to carry life’s burdens on our own.
8. Indulge the temptation of playfulness.
We associate adulthood with seriousness, but pure, uninhibited joy is a spiritual act. Laugh until you cry with old friends, build a ridiculous blanket fort with your kids, dance in your kitchen in your underwear. It releases something childlike inside you, a lightness of being that reminds you God delights in fun just as much as we do.
9. Give in to the temptation to doubt.
Faith isn’t blind acceptance of doctrine, it’s grappling with the big, scary questions. Why does suffering exist? What happens after death? Don’t be afraid to express your doubts, argue with the text, wrestle with God himself. It’s in those moments of raw honesty that faith can go from head knowledge to a deep, unshakeable core.
10. Surrender to the temptation to dream big.
Cynicism tells us to be realistic, but God specialized in the impossible. What breaks your heart about the world? What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail? Don’t dismiss those whispers, they’re often glimpses of God’s audacious plan for you.
11. Indulge the temptation to be emotionally expressive in worship.
Worship is more than sitting politely in a church service. Throw your hands up in praise, kneel in quiet prayer, dance in the aisles if the music moves you. Let your whole body respond to the presence of God – it unleashes a freedom and intimacy reserved for those who worship with their entire selves.
12. Give in to the temptation to take risks for love.
It’s tempting to play it safe – avoid conflict, stick with the comfortable, protect your reputation. But real love calls you to step into the uncomfortable places. Stand up for the bullied kid, speak up when you see injustice, sacrifice your time and resources even when it’s inconvenient. That’s how love moves from an abstract idea into transformative action.
13. Surrender to the temptation of vulnerability.
We crave deep connection, yet hide our true selves behind perfectly crafted masks. Share your fears, the mistakes you’re ashamed of, the parts of you that feel unlovable. It’s terrifying, yet it shatters the illusion we all have to be perfect, paving the way for real intimacy with others and a deeper experience of God’s unconditional love.
14. Indulge the temptation of creative expression.
You may think, “I’m not an artist,” but creativity is in our DNA. Draw stick figures if that’s all you’ve got, write a cheesy poem in your journal, make up a silly song for your dog – it’s about the process, not the product. It accesses a joyful part of you that analytics and to-do lists can never touch, reflecting the nature of the Creator who made you.
15. Give in to the temptation to find awe in the mundane.
It’s easy to miss the small miracles amidst the daily grind. Force yourself to pause and notice the delicate wings of a dragonfly, the way sunlight catches your morning coffee, a child’s infectious laugh. These moments cultivate an unceasing sense of wonder in God’s creation, and that’s just another form of worship, isn’t it?
16. Indulge the temptation to celebrate your accomplishments.
We’re taught that humility means downplaying our successes. But taking time to truly celebrate – throwing a party with friends, buying yourself a special treat, simply letting yourself feel proud – is an act of gratitude. It celebrates the hard work and growth that got you there, and affirms that your efforts matter in the grand scheme of things.
17. Give in to the temptation to hope, even when it feels irrational.
With the news full of war, disease, and disaster, it’s easy to succumb to despair. But hope isn’t about blind optimism, it’s a defiant belief that there’s a better future worth fighting for. Cling to even the smallest glimmers of good in the world, let it fuel your determination to work towards that brighter reality, and remember that some of the most world-changing people were labeled dreamers and fools by those around them.
