Been feeling a little depressed and somewhat lonely lately. I think it might be the loneliness that makes it tough to deal with temptation.

I'm not facing death or persecution, but I am facing a trial. I'll probably look back and laugh at how big a deal I made with something so small. It's still tough to be joyful in times of trial. But the Bible says that this "testing of the faith" will develop perseverance. I prayed for perseverance, maybe this is God's way of giving it to me.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

The Christian walk seems a lot like a rat in a giant maze. We wander around some of us looking for exits, others not even aware that he/she is in a maze. There are many paths decorated with exit signs, but in reality they are blocked. The Creator of the maze tries to help, but we don't listen. He must be so frustrated sometimes because of our lack of trust, or our blindness. Instead of listening to the One who created the maze, we listen to those still quite lost in the maze. We listen to the ones who are confidently lost. But those on the right path probably bring a smile to the Creators face. And sometimes when a rat on the right path crosses a path with a rat going the wrong way, he'll help him to the right direction.
Of course, the rat going the right direction has no way to prove to others that this is the right way. The only reason he knows is because the Creator told him. And he's never even seen this Creator.He can't even see the exit from where he is. Many call him a fool for believing something so stupid.
The many detours that say "exit" on their paths are tempting. But he knows that going that those ways will lead him to a dead end. Sometimes, he'll follow those paths and eventually discover for himself that these paths are dead ends. And then he has to find his way back out of it. But whenever he gets lost, he cannot give up. That is when his situation becomes hopeless, when he gives up he won't be able to get out. So even when he fails, he must stand up again and go on the right path.
The Creator must cringe when he sees one of His rats making a wrong turn. Or when He sees a rat who has been shown the right path turning a different direction.

This whole rat story makes me sound crazy. But I've been thinking about it for a while. I'll finish later.