God's Sovereignty in Adolescent Struggles with Lust
God's sovereignty refers to His absolute right to act according to His own will and pleasure [4]. This divine prerogative extends to all things, as seen in passages like Daniel 4:25, 35 and Revelation 4:11 [4]. When considering adolescent struggles with lust, understanding God's sovereignty helps frame the nature of temptation and the path to overcoming it.
Lust is defined as a sinful longing or an inward sin that can lead to a departure from God [3]. It originates in the heart, which is considered the center of moral forces and spiritual activity [3]. The Bible distinguishes between temptation and sin, clarifying that God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone [2]. Instead, temptation arises from one's own desires or lusts [2]. For adolescents, this can manifest as "youthful lusts," which Adam Clarke interprets not only as irregular and sensual desires but also pride, ambition, and the "lust of power" [6]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown also connect "sorrow" in Ecclesiastes 11:10 to lusts that lead to negative outcomes, contrasting them with joy [7].
While God is sovereign over all things, He is not the author of sin or temptation [2]. The devil is identified as an author of temptation [2], and evil associates can also be instruments of temptation [2]. The struggle against lust requires self-control, which is presented as a practical fruit of Christian knowledge and discernment of God's will [9]. In the context of adolescent struggles, the call to "flee also youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22) is a direct instruction [6]. This fleeing involves actively removing "sorrow" or "anger"—which can be interpreted as sinful lusts and pleasures—from the heart [8]. The consequences of succumbing to forbidden sexual desire can be severe, even leading to death [10].
The concept of God's sovereignty does not negate human responsibility in resisting temptation. Instead, it underscores that God's ultimate control provides the framework within which individuals can seek His help and guidance. The psalmist, identifying as "young and despised," affirms not forgetting God's statutes (Psalm 118:141, Latin Vulgate) [1]. This suggests that even in youth, adherence to God's commands is possible and necessary. Selfishness, which is contrary to God's law, is often exhibited in pleasing oneself and seeking one's own desires [5], which aligns with the nature of lust. Therefore, overcoming lust involves a conscious turning away from self-centered desires and towards God's will.
Sources
- Psalms “Adolescentulus sum ego et contemptus ; justificationes tuas non sum oblitus. -- Psalms 118:141”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Temptation — God cannot be the subject of -- Jas 1:13. Does not come from God -- Jas 1:13. Comes from Lusts. -- Jas 1:14. Covetousness. -- Pr 28:20; 1Ti 6:9,10. The devil is the author of -- 1Ch 21:1; Mt 4:1; Joh 13:2; 1Th 3:5. Evil associates, the instruments of -- Pr 1:10; 7:6; 16:29. Often arises through Poverty. -- Pr 30:9; Mt 4:2,3. Prosperity. -- Pr 30:9; Mt 4:8. Worldly glory. -- Nu 22:17; Da 4:30; 5:2; Mt 4:8. To distrust of God's providence -- Mt 4:3. To presumption -- Mt 4:6. To worshipping the god of this world -- Mt 4:9. Often strengthened by the perversi”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lust — Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 2:22: Flee also youthful lusts - Not only all irregular and sensual desires, but pride, ambition, and, above all, the lust of power, to which most men will sacrifice all other propensities, their ease, pleasure, health, etc. This is the most bewitching passion in the human heart. Both in Church and state it is ruinous; but particularly so in the former. Timothy was now between thirty and forty years of age, the very age in which ambition and the love of power most generally prevail. Carnal pleasures are the sins of youth; ambition and the love of power the sins of midd”
- Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 11:10: sorrow--that is, the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ecc 11:9), Margin, "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," &c., is thus opposed to "walk in," &c. (Ecc 11:9). flesh--the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts. childhood--rather, "boyhood"; the same Hebrew word as the first, "youth" in Ecc 11:9. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given t”
- Ecclesiastes (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ecclesiastes 11:10: Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,.... Worldly sorrow, as opposed to lawful mirth and cheerfulness, and especially to spiritual joy: or "anger" (z), as the word may be rendered, and often is; either at the providence of God, or at the correction of friends; all perturbations of the mind; all fierceness of spirit, and fiery passions, to which youthful age is subject: or all those things, as Jarchi observes, that provoke God to anger; sinful lusts and pleasures, the end and issue of which also is sorrow to men; and which agrees with our version; and put aw”
- 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 1:6: Greek, "And in your knowledge self-control." In the exercise of Christian knowledge or discernment of God's will, let there be the practical fruit of self-control as to one's lusts and passions. Incontinence weakens the mind; continence, or self-control, moves weakness and imparts strength And in your self-control patient endurance" amidst sufferings, so much dwelt on in the First Epistle, second, third, and fourth chapters. "And in your patient endurance godliness"; it is not to be mere stoical endurance, but united to [and flowing from] God-trusting ”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 5:23: 5:23 He will die: Young men must exercise self-control because death can result from acting on sexual desire for what is forbidden.”