Where is your focus today? In the many storms that we face, we often expect Jesus to come in a specific way. Even if it looks like Jesus is not working, remember that He walked on water and He calmed the storm. He is able to calm the storm that you are facing.

If we (the branches) remain abiding in the Vine (Jesus), even though we go through pruning, we will bear much fruit, and we will pass the test. And when we pass the test, there is a promotion!

The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith, and Jesus tells them, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this tree be uprooted and be planted in the sea and it will happen” (Luke 17:5-6).

Increase in faith doesn’t come on a silver platter. Our faith grows only when it is tested. When God gives us a promise, we see the opposite of that promise begin to manifest; because our faith must be tested before the manifestation of that promise comes to pass. Our faith must grow in the process of the promise being born.

Like the Shunamite woman, who received God’s promise in a son but then he suddenly died, can we put the promise He has given us back on His altar and trust that as we wait to see its manifestation, our faith is being tested and grown?

We’re to be joyful in trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience so that we will be mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

Like the muscle hurts when it is stretched and exercised, it hurts when our faith is exercised because only then does is grow.

Blessed are those who persevere under trial, for they will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised those who love Him (James 1:12).

Job gives us a different perspective of testing by glorifying God for testing him every moment. Why? Because there is a reward that is far greater (Job 7:17-18).

God’s testing is never to destroy us but to build us up! The word test in Hebrew is bachan which means ‘to examine, investigate, prove, scrutinize’. The Greek word is dokimazo which means ‘put to test, to prove, examine, approve’.

The tests we go through is not to show God that we have faith or that He can trust us, but to reveal the genuineness of our faith. Our faith is of value to God only when it is genuine.

Why does God test us? Testing:

1. Is part of God’s plan
2. Testing displays His power
3. Testing sanctifies us
4. Testing is to deliver us
5. Testing reveals what is in us & removes impurities from us
6. Testing makes us depend on God & takes our roots deeper
7. Testing disciplines us
8. Testing is an expression of God’s love

How does God test us?

1. Through difficulties – difficulties/challenges are likened to being in the fire (1 Peter 1:6-7; Isaiah 48:10). It is the Refiner’s fire which grows our faith and makes us more like Jesus. Depend on God’s grace to go through trials (2 Corinthians 12:9).
2. Through giving – God tests our faith through our giving of finances – us being a blessing to others, not only in tithes, offering or mission. Are we giving only when our finances are good? Or will we continue to give even when our finances are down? Abel gave a more acceptable sacrifice to the Lord than Cain (Hebrews 11).
3. Through demands – Throughout scripture, God asked His servants to leave family, inheritance, etc, to test their faith. God asked Noah to build an ark to test him even when there was no sign of rain. God will put demands on us that will cause our faith to be tested.

Let us rejoice today because the testing of our faith brings a reward!