Why is it so hard to resist chocolate, but so easy to resist God?
Picture this: you've been sticking to a diet for a few days when, by chance, you discover a box full of chocolate truffles in the pantry. Tempting, right? Just knowing they're there begins to affect your resolve. In a way, the discovery starts working against you.
Night falls, and you can’t resist any longer. You eat one.
"It’s just one... before the diet, I would eat several," you reason.
And just like that—you broke your diet.
Now, imagine another scenario: some brothers and sisters from church invite you to join an evangelistic outreach happening later that evening. As you think about the time, you realize it’ll take a lot of effort to go after work. They remind you that the next day is a holiday, and you remember you need to eat dinner early.
They suggest you have dinner with them, but you stand firm, saying you’ve been avoiding eating out. After thirty minutes of insisting, you decide not to attend the event.
Do either of these situations sound familiar?
Resisting the temptation of a sweet may seem easy, yet we often give in. On the other hand, resisting God may seem pointless, yet we often do it with conviction. Doing God’s will brings benefits—but it requires effort, especially against the desires of our flesh.
We see this in the story of Jonah, who—even while technically doing God’s will—wanted it done his way. That struggle led him into desperation, yet God remained merciful, not just to Jonah, but also to the people of Nineveh.
While following God’s will can be challenging, it is ultimately for our good. Obedience gives birth to love and gratitude, and the more we obey, the more we trust Him—and let go of our useless resistance. Resisting God leads us nowhere. But obeying Him leads us on a virtuous path filled with blessings.
It’s worth the effort—choose obedience!
Stay strong in your diet—and stop resisting God!
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How’s your relationship with God? If you’ve been disobedient, ask for forgiveness.
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Remove the idea that obeying God is just hard work—see His will as an opportunity.
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It may seem odd, but the way we handle everyday rules and challenges often reflects how we relate to God. Examine your actions.
Prayer:
Lord, I ask for forgiveness for resisting Your will. Teach me to obey You with joy and shape me according to Your purposes, knowing Your will is always best for me. Amen.