For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
In yesterday’s devotion, I wrote about the tests we face, and I want to look at them from a different perspective today. Sometimes we go through very difficult situations and don’t understand why. We look for reasons, such as “Did I do something wrong? Is God angry with me?” But more often than not, our faith is simply being tested.
First Peter 4:12 says, Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (AMP).
Focusing on passing our tests is much better than trying to figure out our difficulties. The psalmist described how he felt during a test that appears to have been painful, but let’s not forget the end of the story: “But you brought us to a place of abundance.
God often tests us in order to promote us. Schoolchildren don’t move to the next grade without passing exams to ensure that they have learned what they were supposed to learn in their current grade. Students sometimes fail, but with God we never fail. We simply get to keep taking the test over and over until we pass it.
For example, God may be trying to teach us not to be easily offended, and people keep offending us. We pray for them to stop, but God would rather teach us to become strong enough in our faith not to take the offense and to forgive quickly.
Trust God during times of testing, knowing that He will bring you into a place of abundance.
Prayer of the Day: Father, help me pass my tests so I can grow and become stronger in my faith. I trust that You will always bless me in the end.
