You’re Not Stuck Yet … But You Will Be
Temptation doesn’t always come loud or strong. Sometimes it just waits for you to stay long.

Day 1 of our Bali trip, and we decided to take a relaxed walk through the Seminyak area, eventually arriving at Seminyak Beach. I didn’t expect a spiritual lesson while walking along the shoreline, but life has a way of slipping truth into the most unexpected places.

We were simply enjoying the breeze, the sun dipping low into the horizon, the rustling sound of the waves, and the softness of the sand, until we stumbled upon a patch that felt strangely different. It was moist, and while we were just playing around with our bare feet, we noticed something odd … our feet were slowly sinking.

It felt like quicksand … not the dramatic kind that swallows you whole in an instant, but something that felt alive. Even while standing still, I could feel the earth gently but persistently tugging at my feet.

We laughed. It wasn’t dangerous … we knew that. But still, it was bizarre. I stood in one spot for a while, curious. And then, it got real. I felt my legs sinking past the ankle, reaching the mid of my shin. The sand tightened … for real. My calves felt wrapped in something cold and unyielding. We were still laughing about it and so fascinated when I saw across me Lester was already almost past mid-shin sunken in the sand and just told everyone to get off. It’s fun (and a little eerie), and honestly, it’s a great metaphor too … something that seems solid but slowly pulls you in when you stay still too long.

Later that night, back at the villa, we were recounting the day’s highlights with Ken and Dina, who weren’t able to join us. As we shared the “quicksand moment,” Dina said something that struck a chord: “That’s exactly what temptation feels like.”

She was right.

That is what temptation feels like. Temptation doesn’t always scream danger. It often comes dressed in comfort. It starts soft. Innocent. Maybe even fun. You think you’re in control, that you can just try it and step away whenever you want.

Until you can’t.

Temptation is just like that sand.
Like that sand, temptation doesn’t pull you in all at once. It looks harmless, normal even. But the longer you stay, the more it grips you. And the more you try to fight it on your own, the tighter it gets

Dina reminded us of something our senior pastor once said :

“It is easier to avoid temptation than to resist it.”

I already know this but it made so much sense as I recalled how I felt the sand slowly claim my legs that day.

And Scripture backs that up. Joseph knew it too.

When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he didn’t flirt with the line. He didn’t argue. He didn’t try to “stand his ground.”

“But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.” — Genesis 39:12

He RAN.

The Apostle Paul echoes the same wisdom in the New Testament:

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” — 2 Timothy 2:22

Don’t fight it. Flee it.
You’re not weak for running. You’re wise for refusing to stand where the ground is not safe.

Here are 3 truths I’m holding on to after that beach moment:

• Temptation often looks harmless at first.
  That’s why awareness is key. Don’t stand where you’re not meant to.

• The longer you linger, the harder it is to escape.
  What seems manageable now can suffocate you later.

• The wisest move is not resistance, but distance.
  Don’t argue with temptation—outrun it.

So the next time you find yourself near something that feels “off,” remember this:
You don’t need to prove how strong you are.
You just need to stay where the ground is solid.