Passing the Test

REFERENCE: Proverbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Observation: How does God test our hearts? The same way that silver and gold is made pure, by fire. God allows fire, difficult times, setbacks and disappointments, to come into our live to test and see how we will react. The purpose is not to destroy us but to make us more pure, more like our Father in heaven.

We may think that we react poorly under pressure simply because of the pressure; that we are acting out of character, somehow different that we actually are. Many wise people have noted that hard times do not create poor character; they only reveal what is already there.

Because of that, we should welcome the test. It reveals something of who we really are to God and to us. It enables us to know how we need to change and grow and what help we need to ask God for.

Testing, as hard as it is, is a good and beneficial thing for each of us.

Application/Confession: My greatest test is trusting God with financial pressures and feelings of personal rejection. When people leave the church I pastor or when offerings are down even a little, I find myself worrying. I know that my value is in Him, not in how many people come to the church, but I still struggle. I know that God has promised to meet every one of my needs, but I still worry. I need to learn to live in peace and pass the test by not letting those things stop me from trusting God and depending wholly on Him.

PRAYER: Lord help me. Convince my heart of your eternal, unending love and teach me how to full get my value from You, not from what I do or who supports me. Teach me to trust You, to truly believe that You will provide everything the church or my family needs. You are Lord of the church and Lord of my family, help my heart to remember that You will never leave us or forsake us or not provide for us.