A Different Mindset for Testing

As Christians, we all would say that we have faith in God. We would say that we have faith that Jesus is everything that He said He is. That He is the only begotten Son of the Father. That He was sent to us to show us a better, truer way of living. That He had to suffer and give His life on the cross so that the sins of all mankind would be forgiven. Then, most glorious of all, that He would physically rise again and walk out of the tomb three days after He was crucified.

We all have faith in these things. If not, then perhaps we are not the Christians that we believe we are. But what about our faith beyond these basic fundamentals? What about our faith in God as our provider, in God as our healer, as the God who goes before us and is always working on our behalf? We all can say that we have faith in these things as well, but our faith can only truly  be proven, to God and to ourselves, when it is tested.

No one wants to go through times of trial and testing, but if we are truly a Christian, then the fact is that the tests and trials will come. Each one is a golden opportunity to prove to God, and to ourselves, our level of faith and our degree of commitment to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. 

As was mentioned many times in these devotionals and as the writer tells us in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 

This understanding is further refined in James 1:2-4 where it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

How many of us have the mindset, whenever we are going through a test or a trial, to begin our prayers by saying, “I thank you Lord for this opportunity to prove to you my faith in Your faithfulness.”

For those of us who are going through a challenge or a difficult time, let us start our prayers today by thanking God for this opportunity to prove to Him our level of faith.

Then pray for healing, pray for recovery, pray for restoration, pray for whatever need is most pressing on our heart. Pray and believe that He is a God who listens to our prayers. That He is a God who blesses those who love Him and diligently seek Him, and that He is our Heavenly Provider, regardless of our physical or spiritual need.

Understand that faith is a muscle that can only strengthen and grow through frequent exercise, and our faith will be exercised whenever we focus our lives on living for Jesus. That focus will bring with it challenges and roadblocks to what we believe about God and our Lord. It will bring struggles and doubt. But for those who stay faithful, it will also bring great victories and glorious revelations. It will teach us more about who we are as children of God and who He is as our Heavenly Father.