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.
To test God means much more than trying to get Him to do a miracle; to test God is to insist that He prove that He is trustworthy. To test God is to look at today's difficulties and say, “A loving God would never let me suffer in this way.
Deuteronomy 8:1-5
And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
God sends us the warning signs but we trivialize them; we convince ourselves that we can handle whatever is coming, that if we survived the last time, we can do it again. Through His Word, God reminds us to take caution and be alert. How gracious is He to speak to us through His Word.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The testing of faith is all about trusting God and relying on Him rather than yourself. If you rely on Him in the midst of your testing, He will help you. Testing of faith is not something to be afraid of as God will give you all that you need to stand firm.
Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
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.
If you know you would run from God and be angry if he never answered this prayer request, that means your heart is not ready to receive it. But if you are truly willing to serve God and love him fully even if he never gives you the thing you are asking him for, this is a great sign you are being prepared to receive it.
Whether you realize it or not, all of life's tests have a specific purpose and reason for occurring. The purpose and reason is to help you GROW and EVOLVE physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. By knowing that you WILL you be tested, you can prepare.
Suffering is a test of faith Suffering is used by God to test a person's faith e.g. Abraham and Sarah suffered from infertility. God promised them a son and when Isaac was born he was very precious to them. However, God asked Abraham to kill his son to test that his faith in Him was genuine.
Testing reveals to us where we are in terms of our faith as God already knows whether or not we will pass a given test. It is as we go through the fire of testing and trial that we can be strengthened, sanctified, and purified.
God was concerned about where their hearts were in relationship with him, and he might test them along the way to reveal the answer. “Do you love me with all your heart?” This is the question God asked the Israelites thousands of years ago.
In James 1 the Bible teaches that God uses trials to test or prove our faith. Trials help us to see if our faith is genuine. Trials are also meant to help us develop our faith as we see it lacking. This process is not an easy path to experience.
Although God reveals Himself to all people through their reason and built-in desires, He revealed Himself in a special and powerful way directly to the Hebrews (Jews). --God chose a small, weak, sinful people to teach them about Himself, and to prepare them for the coming of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
The Bible instructs us, "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). Doing this requires judgment, discerning what is good from evil.
Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm. We can also feel that everything will be fine when we follow the Father's will.
“Sometimes the Holy Ghost will warn you of danger, almost like a whistle in your mind.” Then she held up a helmet. “Following the Holy Ghost is like wearing a helmet in a dangerous world. His still, small voice will prompt you so you will be protected spiritually and physically.”