Being tested is a natural part of being human. So it is no surprise that being tested is also a biblical design pattern. Characters in the Bible experience tests throughout the entire story to see if they can live up to God's intended purpose for humanity.
Obedience seems to always be a key part of God's testing. He gives us things to do which make no sense to us and are not particularly appealing, although they are good for us. Then he watches our response to learn exactly how we feel about our relationship with him. If we trust him, we typically obey.
God wants to produce patience in us to slow us down and to show us how to trust in him. God does not test us just for the sake of testing us, but he tests us to teach us to walk in his ways and to trust in him.
First, we need to recognize why God calls us to wait. He does it for his glory and to make us more like Jesus, whose whole life could be called a waiting game.
God's warnings come in various forms: a challenging word from a friend; a story from a pastor's sermon; a still, small voice inside letting you know it's not right; and the unavoidable truth of God's Word.
Finally, and simply, to hear God's voice, ask God to speak. Say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Contrary to what most people think, God wants to speak to us and God is speaking to us all the time. We are simply deaf to what God is saying or not paying attention.
Prayerfully study the following scriptures: Amos 3:6–7. Amos teaches that the Lord reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets.
13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
God Allows Trouble to Prove the Genuineness of Our Faith
Likewise, God puts faith to the test to prove it is genuine. As someone said, “The acid of grief tests the coin of belief.” When some hardship hits in your life, your faith will be put to the test.
' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone” (James 1:13). But it is true that God tests us — that is, He allows us to get into situations where we must make a choice between right and wrong.
God tested Job's faith and refined his character. Job emerged from his ordeal a better and wiser man who exhibited such patience amidst the upheaval of life. “Honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it” (Luke 8:15, NLT).
Likewise, God ordains tests for us, not for his sake, but for ours. He ordains tests today just as he did in the Old Testament with the testing of his people, and in the New Testament with the testing of the disciples.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were tested and showed their faith. Daniel 3:16-18 (HCSB) 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to give you an answer to this question.
God Hears You
He hears our cries of unhappiness, pain, frustration, exhaustion, and fear. We can be honest with Him. His listening ear is always open to our prayers. His loving heart wants to embrace us as we cry on His shoulder.
The Bible more often portrays God's voice as sounding ordinary and meek than as booming and thunderous.
Why Does God Get Angry? In the Bible God gets angry at human violence. He gets angry at powerful leaders who oppress other humans. And the thing that makes God more angry than anything else in the Bible is Israel's constant covenant betrayal.
If you feel abandoned by God, do not feel ashamed. Like the Psalmist, we can call out, “But you, Lord, do not be far from me” (Psalm 22:19). We can lean on God's promise to never leave us or to forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
So the easiest way to know if God is giving you a “No” is to figure out if there is sin involved. If there is anything sinful about your request, obviously God is saying, “No.” Sometimes, however, there comes moral decisions that are not quite as clear in the Bible.
Perhaps God's delay is His way of redirecting you. His delay may be His way of telling you that you need to seek His will in this matter. You may be praying in one direction but He wants you to pray in a different direction. This may be a gentle way of saying “No” to your request.