Day 29 - Testing Times

Before retiring, I had spent over 50 years in electronic product design. Much of the modern product design process is involved with testing. In particular, designing parts for the automotive industry requires many different stages of testing. This process goes from initial concept, through product design, production process and confidence and reliability validation. At each stage, the designs are subjected to many mechanical and electrical stresses and analysing and correcting any failures. Each test phase attempts to highlight and eliminate design or manufacturing faults or weaknesses before the product is considered fit for manufacture.

In the same way, our Christian walk is subject to continual stresses and testing. This can take the form of temptation to sin but it can also result from tests being applied to our faith that arise from merely coping with the stresses and strains of modern life. Just dealing with 24 hour a day news, dwindling finances, unemployment or navigating complex family situations are testing enough! Each of us can fill in own personal details of particular trials we have struggled with in the past or at the present time! At the very least, we are all subject to physical and mental health issues, injury, loss and bereavement throughout our lives.

Certainly Jesus’s life and ministry tested His commitment and faith. From His temptation by the devil in the wilderness at the very start of His public ministry, through dealing with opposition throughout His life and finally to His struggling with the prospect of suffering an agonising death on the cross at Calvary.

So how do we handle all of the stresses which occur throughout our lives?

I have certainly had (and continue to have!) times of testing which have sometimes taken me to the very limit of my faith. At those times, the circumstances can appear almost overwhelming and there have been times when I have wondered “where God is in it all”. At times I have cried out to God and His only response has been, “Do you trust me?” At these times the crucial thing is how we respond to God, even when there is no immediate resolution. Do we turn to God, or away from Him? It is a choice God asks us to make.

Although none of us would choose to be tested in this way, it is these times when God shows up and proves that He keeps His word and does abundantly more that we can ever ask or hope. Looking back at these times I realise that for me, they were periods of strengthening and building of my faith, building confidence to help me to handle the next test.

So what is the purpose of being tested? God already knows He is faithful and true. I believe that it is to strengthen us and cause us to discover the full extent of God’s love, faithfulness, trustworthiness and power, particularly when we have gone beyond our own human strength and resources. When we see His provision, wisdom and power at work, we can offer praise and worship from the very depth of our hearts and spirits.

Peter said: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13) He also said that our faith, being tested with fire, is more precious than gold and would bring praise, honour and glory to God.

James goes further and suggests we should be joyful when we are tempted, as these trials build patience, perfecting us and bringing us to perfection, lacking nothing.

So, we need to stand firm in the testing times, trusting in the love and promises of God knowing that He will not test us beyond that we are able to handle at any point. The faith that is built, is more valuable than any perishable gold! Our trust is our gift to God and He loves it when we choose to give it!

Steve Horton