105. Entrusted

Abstaining from sinful desires is the central, practical focus of this episode of You Matter. Pastor Tom reads 1 Peter 2:11 and then walks us through four actionable practices for resisting the things that wage war on our souls: examine and reframe your perspective (God wants your flourishing, not your boredom), create distance from temptation, recruit a friend or trusted person in the moment of temptation, and pray for God's power. Using honest pastoral stories—about addictions that began as a “just one” choice—and a clear metaphor of life as a boxing ring (you’re the boxer; the pastor is in your corner), Tom gives listeners the posture and the playbook to stop replaying the same failures. This episode is for anyone wrestling with recurring sin, secret habits, or confusing desires and wants straightforward, gospel-centered help. Listen now to get practical next steps and spiritual encouragement for the fight. Discussion Questions: Pastor Tom says to 'examine your perspective' about temptation. How do you currently view God’s commands-do they feel like joy or restriction? Have you ever created physical boundaries (e.g., removing snacks, moving a laptop) to avoid temptation? What worked or didn’t work? Tom urges listeners to 'phone a friend' at the first stirring of desire. Who would you realistically call in a moment of temptation, and what would that conversation look like? Reflect on a season of unjust suffering in your life. Which of Tom’s three responses (accept, remember what you’ve done, remember Jesus) would have helped you most in that season? How does remembering Jesus reshape your attitude toward ongoing or chronic suffering? Share a specific Bible passage or devotional practice that helps you ‘fix your eyes on Jesus.’