“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

Am I Being Tested?

During the worst time of this pandemic with restrictions placed on all of us, I was convinced this was a time of testing by the Lord. And what concerned me was that God would have concluded that I failed the test, because I was consumed with worry, anxiety, and fear, and there were moments I wondered whether “if such and such happened,” would I be able to trust that God had everything under control, when it didn’t look or feel like it.

I am sure God does not test us for fun, nor for His benefit, nor does He test us because He is unsure of what we will do. God already knows what we will do. So why does God test us if He already knows what we will do? I believe God has been testing me to show me the condition of my heart.

Jesus had a very effective way of communicating by asking people many questions, but He does not ask questions to learn something about us; rather, God asks us questions so we will learn something about ourselves. For instance, when God asked Adam: “Where are you?” He knew where Adam was, but the question forced Adam to assess himself and realize his current condition. Likewise, God often puts tests in our lives not to cause us to fall or to lose faith but rather to make us aware of our condition and how far we may have drifted from Him.

The good news is, when I realize I am moving away from God, I have the tools to return to His loving arms as quickly as I drifted away. Having to stay at home, I have developed some spiritual tools, such as watching live stream church services on Wednesday night and Sunday mornings; praying and meditating on Him; staying in touch with my Life Group partners even though we don’t see each other face to face, but only through testing—I mean, texting!

Oh God, I thank You for Your loving ways of showing me where I need to grow closer to You. I am grateful for your mercy through the process. Mercy triumphs over judgment!