That reminds me of a sermon I heard recently. The pastor was teaching from 1 Peter 1:6-
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.In the sermon, he mentioned that he had always looked at trials as tests by God, ones that you could pass or fail, and God was just waiting to see if you could weather the trial. In fact though, the trials or tests are really for YOU to see what you are made of. It's a chance to see where your strengths are, so you can grow. Suddenly my brain clicked in to gear...
God already knows me through and through... these tests are not for His benefit... but mine!
You know how you can hear something a jillion times and then one day it's said in such a way that you just get it? In that moment, I finally got it.
The tests we are enduring now, they're preparing us for eternity... as we work out our salvation, growing toward the ultimate goal of Christlikeness... they're not so we can be judged, but so we can figure out what areas we need to study harder in! So, if I don't do well in a trial, it's not that I got an F, but I instead get the opportunity to let God refine these areas. If I lose my temper, I know I need to pray for patience. If I doubt? Time to build my faith.
And where does faith come from? Just need to consult the Study Guide (it's an open Book test, after all)~
Romans 10:17- So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.So, if I go through a trial, and discover that my faith is weaker than I thought it was, I just need to read and hear more of the Word. Aha! Then, that's what I shall do! How hard is that?
I guess the reason I'm so excited about this revelation is that I guess I just never thought much about why God would test me, I only focused on how disappointing it must be for God to have me fail time after time. Now that I realize that I can use these 'practice tests' to get me ready for eternity, I can pay attention much better to what actually is happening. That way, the closer I get to eternity, the closer I'll be to Him.
God is so faithful to paint little pictures for my heart to understand. What an amazing God we serve! I get that I'm still a preschooler in the faith, but I feel honored that He takes the time to break it down to my understanding. Hallelujah!
ps: thank you for your comments on post #400! It's not too late to leave a comment- I'll be sending a check to Compassion International next Friday (Oct 16, 2009) and I'd love to sign more of your names to the card. XOXO
7 comments:
Sigh. A good sigh. I needed to hear this affirmation today, my friend. Thank you. Nobody says it like you say it.
"open book test" - why can we not remember that?
Gee, I thought open book tests were easier than this! Good thoughts here!
Wow! Awesome.
Oh, and I second what care-in said.
Well said my sista!! Someone once taught me that we tend to project our emotions onto God. I thought of this when you said
"I only focused on how disappointing it must be for God to have me fail time after time"
I think WE are the ones who are disappointed in ourselves, and we allow that to cripple us sometimes. God's heart toward us is not to be judged on how we feel about ourselves. The perspective you have shared here really illuminates and extends the things I have grasped from that understanding.
I like what Brandy said. I oftentimes believe the lie that God thinks about me the way I think about myself...and that's a lie. He tells me in His word how much He loves me, and how complete I am in Christ.
love it when you "get" something i can totally "get"
thanks for gettin it!!
now i'm gonna be singing gotta get get all night ha
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