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Why do we go through tests and trials?

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“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” 

Psalms 66:10-12 

 

While in the midst of an unwelcomed or unfortunate experience, you’ve undoubtedly uttered “This ain’t nothing but a test.” The experience may also have caused you to wonder, “Why is God taking me through this?”

In trying to find an answer, you may have taken an introspective moment to determine whether you harbored some ill thoughts or improper feelings. You may have taken a duly trip down memory lane to recollect whether you had done some wrong or wronged someone. If you came up empty, you were left stumped as to why. In actuality, sometimes we never figure out the purpose behind a test or trying experience.

God doesn’t have to, and may not, inform us why as he didn’t tell Job the purpose of his suffering. From God’s perspective, our knowing why or the specific purpose of a test isn’t primary. Yet yielding to the testing process that he imposes is paramount. Maintaining his commitment to God yet unaware of why he was severely suffering, Job stated “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10ff).

We may not know the specific reason for a test God takes us through, yet the Bible does offer an overall purpose for tests and trials. The purpose of tests and trials is for our perfection (James 1:2-4). God’s intended end is for us to be complete, mature, entire — fully developed without any defects.

This perfection comes through the process of putting our faith to test. God views the genuineness of a steadfast faith more valuable than gold or silver (1 Peter 1:7). Therefore, faith has to be tested. As gold and silver go through a purifying process to get rid of the dross, God takes us through a purifying (and sometimes painful) process to get rid of the worthless stuff in us. God thusly develops our character by depositing some worthy stuff in us. Our proven faith and approved character forged through God’s refining process stamps us acceptable and useful.

Here’s a story about a woman who went to a silversmith to watch the process of refining silver: As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Malachi 3:3). She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.”

As the refiner, God employs tests and trials to mold us into Christ’s image, whereby we share his likeness inwardly (Romans 8:29 AMPC). So with each time we go through a testing process, God sees more and more of Christ’s reflection in us.

 

Rev. Johnson A. Beaven III is pastor of Citadel of Faith Church of God in Christ. Contact him via email at jabeaven@gmail.com or Twitter @jbeaven. For more information, visit www.johnsonbeaven.com and www.CitadelCOGIC.com.

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