Ezekiel 32, Ezekiel 33: 1-32, James 1, Proverbs 6: 18-27
James 1: 2-4 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of
various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
In verses 2 through 4 from James 1, James tells us that when
we have trials in our life we need to glad because it means God is testing our
faith. James tells us that when we pass the tests that God gives to us, it
means that our faith will become stronger and more steadfast. James also tells
us that the constant testing of our faith by God means that our faith becomes perfect
and complete, and that we will lack in nothing.
When I first read these verses, I first thought to myself
why is God testing me? Doesn’t he already know my mind and the depth of my
faith? Yes God does know us inside and out, but I don’t think that is why he
tests us. I think God tests us because we don’t know ourselves as well as we
think we do. As humans we seem to only know what we truly believe in and what we
feel when we are tested. We seem to only know how strong our faith is when we
face trials and test that tempt us doubt our faith and doubt God. I know that
is the way with me.
I used to always think of myself as “Doubting Thomas”. I was
the one who constantly needed proof of God’s love for me and his existence. I
was the one person who would need physical proof that God rose from the dead; I
would not believe it by faith alone. But I no longer think of myself as “Doubting
Thomas”. I’ve had enough trials and tests of faith in my life to know that some
of the doubt has gone away, although it hasn’t been erased completely. So I
know from experience that the trials of God do work. Does it mean I like it
when God sends test my way? No, but I understand why he sends them now. I know that
God wants me to have self-confidence in my own level of faith, and that can only
happen when I am going through a trial and I pass and have memories to look
back on when the doubts rise again.
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