Why It Is So Hard....

There is a word used in the book of James, a Greek word, that is translated in English as "trial" and "tempt." How the word is translated has to do with context because both "trial" and "tempt" are proper translations.
Hardship, trial, suffering, difficulty and problems are part and parcel of our lives. Perplexity (see 2 Corinthians 4:7-12) is just as important a facet of our existence as is relief. But it is perplexity and being "hard pressed" (trial) which make us what we are to be. After Jesus had been here for awhile and lived the human trek the Hebrews writer said "he learned obedience through the things that he suffered (5:8), "even though he was a son." Peter, who struggled along mightily, wrote in his first letter that it is the "fire" that tests and proves our faith in God (1 Peter 1:4-9) and the brother of Jesus would say that it is "trial" that matures us as we have faith in God (James 1:1-18). So hardship, suffering and trial make us...they are necessary as we move along in life. They are the thorns which put our trust in God to the test...
Back to this word translated "trial" and "temptation." In the midst of our trial, our testing, however long it may last and however intense it might be, there is another spirit being doing its best to pull us away from faith/trust. As in Genesis 3 he speaks another word than God's word and seeks to get us to focus on what we like or an experience we might cherish. He tells us lies about what is right and uses rationalization (ours) to create a new perspective. He redefines truth and often makes us the author of it instead of God. HE is a liar and Jesus even said lying was his "native language." So in the midst of our suffering, trial, hardship or perplexity the tempter is there turning TRAIL into TEMPTATION.
The line between trial and temptation is a thin line which cannot be seen. It is the invisible line of faith in the God who remains outside our tangible world. Faith is evidence of that which we do not see (Hebrews 11). When the thorns arrive God demands we trust him and that is the trial. The "father of lies" tells us God us not trustworthy and that we should lean on ourselves, our wisdom, our insight, our mental and physical strength. That is when "trial" which is for our own good and growth is turned into temptation. The difference between trial andtemptation remains a thin invisible line. Drawing close to God demands trial and when the trial comes the other one tries to turn it into temptation...that is why it is so hard...for trial to work we trust the God whom we have not seen...