How often do we say "God is testing my faith!". God will not test us! He will not tempt us! Tempting and testing come from Satan. God is incapable of hurting us, it is not in his nature!
Trials in life are not tests of faith! They help us to see that the faith we have is genuine. If our faith is not genuine, we will fall. If our faith in God is genuine, we will survive! Not because we have a strength of character, but because we have a God who holds us strong. We are kept safe in his hands, secure and loved.
When we come through tough times our hearts are full of praise for the love of our God who has held us safe.
So don't see trials as testing, but as a means to demonstrate to yourself that your love of God is genuine. Think of all the tough times David suffered during his life. So many Psalms begin with frustration and panic as he worries about how he will ever get out of whatever trial he is facing. Yet each psalm ends in praise as David acknowledges the awesome majesty of his Lord. His faith was never tested! His faith proved to him that his love of God was genuine and would always keep him safe.
Let the trials you face be an opportunity for you to be reminded that your love of God is genuine and not just superficial.
2 comments:
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." (Heb 11:17-18)
Sue, tempting and testing are not the same thing. God never tempts us (our temptations come from our own evil desires) but our tests come from God, not from Satan. Who is in control of our lives? Why should we consider our trials pure joy if the come from an evil source?
The disciplines we receive from God (the trials he allows us to go through) prove his love, just as much as his mercy (the trials he spares us from).
:-) thanks Chris.. my grasp if English is sometimes poor!
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