Testing Faith
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2–4 ESV
We will all be challenged with testing of our faith. Any testing of our faith is to be embraced. Stay focused on God, stay prayerful, and reach out to other believers to share your struggles so they can pray for you. Like the Bible says, let steadfastness have its full effect. When you exercise and you are consistent, eventually you have to push yourself more and more in order to keep challenging yourself. If you don’t push yourself, you will become complacent and lose site of where you are going. Spiritually, staying in prayer, experiencing fellowship with other believers, and reading the Word of God, will continue to push you to grow and to be better and better as a Christian.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;”
James 1:5–7 ESV
As part of my daily prayer, I ask God for the Holy Spirit to teach me His wisdom, and to show me what I need to learn when reading the Word of God, the Bible. I don’t expect immediate answers, or even specific answers. But I stay steadfast, and trust the Lord will respond and teach me in His time. Yes, we are to pray expectantly, but we also need to have faith, and trust in the Lord that He will respond in His way, not ours.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Luke 2:52 ESV
Just as we will grow and mature spiritually as we seek God daily, our stature, will change. There will be a level of confidence deep within that will cause us to have a better attitude, make us more approachable, make us a better teacher, a better speaker, a better spouse, parent, employee, friend, and family member. That stature, born from the wisdom if God inside us, makes us more in shape for God to use us how He needs.
Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you do. I thank you for the Word of God that you have provided for us to be closer to you. I pray the Holy Spirit opens my eyes to your wisdom in the Bible to better my life, my spiritual walk, and to make me a better instrument for you in our world, however you need me, Lord. I love you, thank you, and praise you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.