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Testing of our faith

The Bible tells us that our faith needs to be tested. James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Trouble, trials and tribulations challenge our faith and call it to the witness stand. Sometimes we pass the test and sometimes we fail the test. However, God desires us to pass the test. Abraham also failed many times but ultimately when God wanted him to offer up Isaac, he willingly do so without question asked.

The Bible has revealed God's promises, ways and character to us. They are reliable, solid and clearly true. They do not change. However, when trouble come, how do I react? Am I able to cling to His promises:-

Hebrews 13
5b For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Romans 8
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God has a good purpose for the testing of our faith. He is working patience in us. What is patience? It is believing God when there is no visible evidence that he is at work in our lives. During the process, he wants us to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. He wants us to learn to trust Him, His words, His promises and not to look at our situations. Often God is doing his greatest work in us when we cannot see anything happening. Sometimes we pray and things may even get worse. We may even asked "Has God forgotten about us?" The answer is no. He is doing a deeper work in our hearts. The testing of your faith is producing patience.

I love the examples given in James 5, on the illustration of patience: The farmer, Elijah and Job. They all had to wait for good things to happen. So let us be encouraged and learn to trust Him and don't give up - He has something in store for us.

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