For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5: 5
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted of God";for God cannot be tempted with evil,and he himself tempts no one; James 1:12-13
Are you having recurrent tests in a particular area of your life? The other day, I was going through a similar test that I have been through severally. I asked God why I had to go through it again and again. I thought I had overcome but the way I handle the experience every time tells me that I have not been able to overcome in that particular area of my life and that is why I get specific repeated tests.
A marketing thought came in to my mind. Every quality product must undergo numerous performance tests and even receive quality marks before it can be released in to the market with confidence. Well, how about the children of God who are fearfully and wonderfully made? We too are tested inorder to be proven.
God does not tempt us but he allows us to go through tests. Tests are meant to produce proven quality results. We can either pass a test or fail it but God would like us to pass the tests in our lives because they count towards fulfilment of His purposes in our lives. I think at times we take longer than we should to step in to our calling because of being unable to overcome tests along the way.
Sometimes, I have tried to overcome by forgetting an ugly experience and hoping it does not happen again but to my greatest shock it does. I have learnt that there are no shortcuts to overcoming and it requires more than we think. We need God the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth in the Word and then to help us walk in love in whatever area we are tested. There is work to be done. Being able to overcome certain things such as rejection, abuse, unforgiveness, anger, jelousy and hatred is a significant step towards making us vessels that God could use. And Satan knows that as well, so he fights tooth and nail to see us fail. When we are able to endure in love, we are then tested and proven. Our character is then transformed and we can be used to touch other lives.
Dear Jesus, help me to pass the tests that come my way in life so that I can be of use to you. In Your mighty Name. Amen
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