Being Tested in Faith

If only God would tell us in advance that He was about to test us, what would we not be willing to endure?

Does He want us to wear a crown of thorns? Sure, we're up for that! Does He want us to carry a literal cross? You bet! Just tell us how far!

Yeah, it's kind of almost easy, isn't it? If He personally comes and tells you to do this or that. Yeah, you'd know it would be physically hard, but hey, even if you died, pretty much a guarantee of where you'll eventually wind up, huh?

But He doesn't.

Oh, wait, don't get me wrong. You do get tested. But they are tests pertaining to this life on Earth, this imperfect world, tests due to our own sinning natures and the sinning natures of others. God Himself is not throwing stumbling blocks at you, He is simply observing how you handle the ones that come about naturally.

Swim this stormy sea?  Or deal courteously with that
dork in the next cubicle who stole your candy?  Yeah,
sure, I'll hold your watch and wallet.

God watches how you deal with those tests. Is your faith in Him strong enough to deal with those? The co-worker who did you wrong, the church brother who did you wrong, the family member who did you wrong? And a million other petty things from that guy who bumped you to the loan officer who turned you down on a technicality?

Can you pass those tests? Because from my own personal experience, and seeing and hearing of the pain of others I know who've been through various of life's travails, those can be pretty hard tests.

Those tests can make cross carrying and crown of thorn wearing look pretty darn good.

But see, God really is about knowing our hearts and seeing how strong our faith is. It really is no test at all if we are told in advance that we'll endure a given amount of pain and then get a sure reward.

The real test of faith is - can you deal with life's routine crap, and still love Him and still love His son and still love His children, including the ones who annoyed you to no end?

Loving Him and His son no matter what, yeah, maybe we're all down with that. But loving our enemies - or just friends and family and acquaintances that annoy us - hmmm...that's the real test now, isn't it?