Passing the Test

Do you remember when you were in school and you had a test? You generally knew in advance and had time to prepare and study. You figured out how each teacher’s tests were set up. You probably had a system that worked for you, whether it was note cards or group study, or writing out summaries. I have a good memory so generally if I can get the facts or the subject that I am being tested on in my mind, then I can recall what I need. It’s what worked for me. Isn’t it interesting how when God sends a test, it seems like a foreign occurrence? Sometimes you look around and wonder how you got there and why you didn’t see it coming. It seems like what worked for you doesn’t work anymore. Today, God sent me to a scripture that I don’t remember ever having read before. But it spoke to me and so I am sharing with those of you who may be going through a test in your life.

“Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.  For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water;  but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” (Ps. 66: 8-12 NKJV) This Psalm was a celebration of who God is and how awesome He is but it truly spoke to surviving the tests and trials of life. God sees you and your struggles because He is there. That was so powerful to me. He is Jehovah Shammah, present with you. He is not an absent or invisible God. He is keeping you alive even in the midst of a difficult time and when you have come through the testing, abundance awaits you. When you have come out of the fire and water, you will find, as the New Living Translation says, a “well watered place”. Keep pressing…

Whenever you go through a test, it is so easy to get caught in the place where you feel like you are the only one to go through. It can be lonely and frustrating because you don’t want to be seen as a whiner or a “victim”. You know how it is. Everyone else in your world looks like they have it good! They are holding hands with their husband while you want to stab yours. They just got a promotion and you are dealing with the worst boss ever. They got pregnant without even trying and you’ve been trying for years. Frustrating. But Paul says something to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that you can hold on through a difficult test. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT) Don’t you love that? Even in the midst of a test, God is covering you. He will not put something before you that is unescapable. There is always a way out. Keep pressing…

I guess it all comes down to the definition of the word test. Google defines it as ‘a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.’ God has a plan and purpose for your life and there are things that He will allow you to experience that are meant to prepare you for His use. Your responsibility is to prepare by studying your word and getting to know your Teacher. Understand that He has promised to never leave nor forsake you and that includes during the tests and trials of life. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV) Just keep pressing, there is pure gold on the other side! AMEN.