Faith Test

Have you ever met someone who is always going through? Or maybe you have even experienced times where nothing was going right. Or maybe you’ve prayed to God for help on something, and then a situation comes up and it puts you right back to where you started. It feels almost as if God isn’t coming through for you. Reality is, God is there with you every step of the way. God provides help in all situations, but it takes your faith to get to the solution. For example, you may pray for patience and then God may place you in a situation where typically your patience may run thin. It's up to you to use the willing power God has provided you to allow patience to increase instead of decrease. God has already equipped you with tools needed to prosper in life. It's just like in 1 Kings 3, King Solomon prayed to God for more wisdom in order to lead the people better. God granted his request and placed him in a situation where the King had to make a decision between two mothers and a baby. After his decision the people respected the king even more. God can give you what you ask for, if it's according to His will for you.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). A lot of our experiences as a believer are due to the testing of our faith. Remember God doesn’t want you to struggle, He doesn’t have bad things aligned for you but there will be suffering simply because He suffered. It's what we do in the suffering that shows who we are. There are times when we know we’re being tested and yet we still want to give up. In those times we have to remember how sovereign our God is, how great and powerful He is and how He endured. He has placed that same power in us but we have to activate it! The enemy doesn’t want us to pass the test but with a fight we will! Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses ( 1 Timothy 6:12).

The Lord is on our side but we also have a part to play. We have to do our diligence with worship, reading, praying and fasting. In school in order to pass a test, studying is involved. In order to pass the spiritual tests, we need to use our weapons- our armor of God: helmet of salvation, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet of peace, shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-17). The enemy will see that the test isn’t defeating you based on your actions. In school if you pass the tests and do the assignments correctly, it's almost guaranteed that you will move to the next grade. Pass the spiritual tests and you advance higher in God, for the tests should mold and shape your character spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I know when I finally get through something, I feel as if I can accomplish anything. It's the same as when you face your fears, you automatically feel stronger after. Let your faith increase and then strength will come in. Once you face the test with faith and no doubt, you’ll see that shift in your situation. There will be more days of peace and joy rather than worry and stress. Yes, the situation may not be completely removed but you’ll realize a difference in how you approach it. Also certain tests may come that reoccur in the future, but when it comes you will already know how to handle it- and that is also a way that God helps.

Everything we go through in life can be served as a lesson-the good and the bad. Don’t think that God can’t be in something because of how you expected it to look. Sometimes because we are going through the bad or the “not so perfect”, we automatically assume that it's not from God. God can very well be in those rough patches because He’s there for a greater purpose. God may put you to a test and already know you’re going to fail, but that should make you realize where you are in Him-which ultimately is helping you. Maybe you thought you were in a place that you weren’t and God wants you to work on that. God places you in situations to not only reveal who He is, but reveals who you are also.

Be filled with the Word of God and be intentional about a relationship with Him. That way when the trials and tests come, we don’t have to operate from a place of fear but rather security in God. Blessed is the man who is steadfast under trial and preserves when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

Luke 8:15 But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience

James 1:3 Be assured that the testing of your faith produces endurance

1 Peter 1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes to God must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him