The Testing

Most of us are familiar with the idea that God "tests" people.  In fact, some people are even outraged at that idea.  Doesn't seem fair.  Like somehow it's a sick trick or experiment.

What about when Jesus asked Philip where to get the bread to feed thousands of people?  The Bible says that He only asked him this to "test" him, because He already had in mind what to do.  (John 6:6).  That doesn't seem very nice, does it?

To add to that, I learned that the word used in the Bible for test is peirazo, which one website translated at tempt.  Well, I wasn't happy when I learned that!  So Jesus was tempting Philip to doubt?  That can't be right.  Because James 1:13 says that God does not tempt us.  And James uses the same root word for the word tempt: peirazomi.

So what on earth is going on here?

This didn't sit well with me so I did a bit more study on it and learned that the greek word (peirazó ) actually has two meanings: 1) to tempt, OR 2) to prove with a test.  Well, okay, that I can work with.  Biblehub said that the accurate meaning would depend on the context.  And since I am a Bible-believing Christian, I believe what James says.  So when Jesus peirazo-ed Philip, He was giving Philip a chance to prove his faith in Jesus.  I don't think Philip passed that particular test or the test of his faith when all the apostles abandoned Jesus when He was arrested.  But the remainder of Philip's life was hopefully spent passing one test after another, proving to the universe and to fellow believers (and to himself) that his faith in Jesus would not be shaken.

I have heard many people claim that God is "testing" them whenever they are going through hardship.  They lose their job or their family or their health or whatever, and the instant response might be, "God is really testing me right now."  I used to think that way.  But not anymore.  Not since this morning.

When you cling to Jesus to get through a trial, that is not a test.  Tat is a love affair.  With Jesus.  You get to know Him quite intimately, call to Him with every breath you take, use His strength in place of your weakness.  Jesus is right there with you, every time you call, at a moment's notice, in the blink of an eye.  He's always there and you always feel Him near.  Some people have said that it was during their darkest moments that they experienced Jesus the most.  So, I'm sorry, that doesn't sound like a test.  It doesn't sound like you're being asked to prove anything.  Seems almost like God is the one being tested.  God is the one who is proving His enduring love for you and His ability to sustain you through the trials.  Those are the trials that build your faith if you turn your eyes towards Him.

So if the difficulties we face can turn out to be tests for God and strength for us, then how are we tested?

I guess I've decided that our test comes when we have a chance to prove our faith.

For example, during a situation where I am tempted to worry about an outcome, I can prove my faith in Jesus, by letting go of the worry and sleeping peacefully at night.  Because I have faith that God will handle this and I don't need to concern myself with it anymore.

Or when I am tempted to believe the enemy's lies that God does not actually personally care for me, I can stand in the truth of the knowledge that Jesus DOES love me.  My history with Jesus will pass that test because I KNOW that He cares and has a plan for me.  I will stand in that truth with confidence and not waver, because if I waver and doubt God's care for me, I will end up denying Him as my protector and Savior, and rejecting Him negates His entire sacrifice.

But the biggest test of all, is during those times when I no longer feel the presence of Jesus surrounding me.  When I sit and wonder why.  And wonder where He is.  Wonder why He won't answer me when, in the past, He was always right there.  Those times that I feel abandoned by God and by His Son and I wonder if He was ever even real.  Those are the greatest tests because they are only passed by tapping into what I know to be true about Him, not necessarily what I see.

When I feel abandoned by God, will my relationship with Him have been strong enough to will me to stand for Him?  Can I say, with confidence and conviction, that I belong to God and that He HAS tenderly cared for me and led me and guided my every footstep, even though every step I take brings me more pain?  What if He's silent?  What if He seems distant?  What if I can't find any answers for the events of my life?  Can I still vouch for Him?  Can I still profess His loving nature and His undying devotion to me?  Can I still proclaim His faithfulness to the universe and say, "No matter what, God is faithful and He is just!"?

Or will a trial of this nature prove that I am not fully devoted to God?  Will I give up and call it all rubbish?  And decide that it was all really just a sick joke that the devil played on me so that I can disown God and belong to darkness, instead?  Will this kind of test finally cause me to turn my back on God with disgust at the fact that no matter how hard I try, I will NEVER understand Him?

What will the test of silence prove?  Will I stand with God or turn my back on Him?

Well, these aren't just rhetorical questions, they're real questions. That need to be answered.  So do it.  Answer them already.  Cause I finally did this morning and it was a HUGE load off my chest.  So in spite of my whiny "God-is-not-here" attitude lately, it turns out I still profess His faithfulness and I am relieved to know that even His apparent "distance" will not shake my love for Him.