TESTING, YOU CAN PASS!!

God continually tests our character, our faith, our obedience, our love, our integrity, and our loyalty.

The words: trials, temptation, refining and testing appear more than 200 times in the Bible. God tested Abraham, Jacob, Adam and Eve, Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Paul. The list goes on.

CHARACTER is both developed and revealed by tests

We will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.

Nothing is insignificant in our lives!

The good news is GOD WANTS US TO PASS THE TESTS IN OUR LIVES!

He never allows the tests you face to be greater than the grace He gives you to handle them! God keeps His promises and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test. He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

James 1:2-6

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

So my friend, if today, or this week or this year have been tough for you, recognize it as a test and know that He has given you everything you need to pass the test.

2 Corinthians 12:9
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee."
unknown author

By studying GOD'S WORD, we can know all the answers ahead of time. Those we do not know, all we have to do is open our Bibles and read and study it. We do not have to fail any of the tests that God gives us, He truly has given us all the answers.

I read the testimony of a lady recently that was dying of cancer. She only had a short time, barring a miracle, left to live. She make this quote, that I believe was taken from someone else, I can't remember who. The quote touched my heart and opened my eyes a little more about suffering and the trials that we go through in this life. The quote went like this, "GOD ALLOWS IN HIS WISDOM THAT WHICH HE COULD EASILY PREVENT BY HIS POWER."

If God gives us grace sufficient, and He has promised not to put more on us than we can bear and we know that God does not lie then, when the trials come, it is much easier if we can take to heart,the quote, "God allows in His wisdom that which He could easily prevent by His power." We can trust God, no matter what we are going through, no matter the pain, the hurt, the burden, the struggle, the lesson, we are being taught, no matter the tears that fall from a broken heart. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. I do not speak these words without knowledge and experience. I have not lived 66 years without having hurt, pain, sorrow, many tears, my heart being broken. Today, I say that the trials will come but there WILL BE JOY IN THE MORNING. I have never suffered in anyway that after it was over that I have not loved God more, knew Him better and even seen the good that has come from my trial. No, it was not easy at the time but as I have thought about it, I don't think that I would change a thing because I would not be at the place in my Christian life that I am today. I am not foolish enough to think that I have "arrived" because I know that I am just a sinner saved by grace. But I know that I am closer to the Lord than when I started out on this journey. He does tell us in those passages in the book of James, that we are "to count it ALL joy" when we fall into divers temptations.

Maybe the next time you find yourself in the mist of a trial you will remember, You can find the answers right in God's WORD. Don't just read it but believe it!!! connie