The Joy of the Test

James 1:2-4 (MSG) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

I can hear you say 'Now I know, I have proof that you are crazy.' Being glad when tested, Ha!

I don't think, realistically, there are any tests in life that we enjoy. Blood tests scare us, exams scare us, testing the intention of others scare most people out actually doing it.

Yesterday I had a discussion with a friend who is interested in a man who has a sordid past. Yes he now loves God and comes to church but to know if he has changed he has to be tested, just as he was before, and still stand unaffected.

This may seem harsh to some, not to me, because if we namby pamby around and change the rules to suit our emotions, we choose, I say we choose, to be blind to the truth.

These rules are the same for us. We must know we have learnt more than we made a mistake. I see divorcees constantly wanting to 'move on' without moving on in their own lives, cleaning up their act.

We must let time test us, stuff needs to happen, just like it did before, so that we know we are through the other side and ready.

People are in a hurry to 'feel' better and not bother to take the time to 'be' better. It is not about our feelings it is about a deeper thing called faith.

Our God wants us to actually act like 'children of God' and use our faith towards Him. The rewards are great if we are willing but we have to let time work out the truth in our lives.

Hebrews 10:36 says; 'for you have need of endurance so that you might prove the will of the Father and receive what has been promised.' God has a plan to give us a hope and a future if we dare to believe and wait patiently for it. Amen!

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