“Life is a cruel teacher.  She loves to give you the test first and the lesson later.” – Daymond John

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.” – Rick Warren

“God never uses anyone greatly until he tests them deeply.” – A.W. Tozer

“Problems are spiritual lessons from God – spiritual lessons to be learned.” – Tony Robbins

There is something about the tests of life that have always rubbed me the wrong way.  To me, “testing” implies measurement – a gauge that determines my ability to move forward or to fail, to start over again or worse yet, to move backwards.

How does measuring my response and my subsequent, potential reward tied to grace?  If the cross has earned my salvation, is there still something I must prove to God?  The Scriptures say that God knows “how weak we are”, that “He remembers we are only dust.” (Psalm 103:14 NLT).  It tells us that even when we pass tests that “all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have carried us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

So given the dusty, filthy rag I am at my very best, must I earn my favor in this world by how well I pass my tests?  Doesn’t Almighty, Omniscient God know how I will perform BEFORE the test is even administered?  If the teacher knows the outcome of the test prior to administering it, what is the purpose behind it?  What is the point?

And even more so, if passed tests determine our ability to move forward with a blessed life and failed tests keep us stagnant, then why do many evil people seem to avoid trials and testing all together, while some good people get more than their fair share of them?  If the test is about measurement of progress, if it is about whether or not we stack up against all God expects of us, then why such inequity?

If all these tests and trials are about judgment, then I am certain to fail miserably!  How can I be like Kind David who said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living?” (Psalm 27:13 NKJV)

How can we be hopeful for a blessed life here if it’s all contingent on passing the test?

I am a fierce opponent of legalism – the idea that any of us can earn favor from God or our heavenly reward by our own human actions.  Such belief mocks the ultimate sacrifice at the cross.  It feeds the ego that we, of our own accord, are more worthy than others, that our “righteousness” is self-made and not “credited to us” as Paul speaks of in the fourth chapter of Romans.  To believe that our ability to pass tests in this world is in direct correlation to our earned favor with God is heresy, self-righteous, and utterly false.

Yet….God is in the testing business.  Why?

Testing started in the Garden of Eden, moving to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – to the children of Israel and beyond.  In fact, in just about every Bible story, we can see the testing challenge that God Himself allows.  The Scriptures say that God “tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3 and 1 Thessalonians 2:4) – the very essence of our motives and desires.

Recently I became very frustrated with all the tests in my life and my continuing failure.  I see my weaknesses so clearly and if a good life for me is based on my abilities alone, my life will be a tremendous failure.  Even when I try my best, I always seem to come up short.

A very good friend of mine suggested to look at tests in a new light.  “I’m not so sure anything is a test as much as it is a lesson”, she said, trying to comfort me in my hopelessness.

I’ve given it much thought and I believe she is right.

Our God, who already knows the outcome of that test, isn’t so much concerned about our performance as He is our growth.  Doesn’t that speak so eloquently to His grace and His love for us?  Doesn’t the lesson within the test make it more about learning than it does about measurement?  Isn’t it heartwarming to think about how tests are meant for our good and our growth in the long run – not the reward we earn from passing them or the favor or blessing we selfishly think we deserve by succeeding.

Doesn’t it make failing them only a temporary setback versus a permanent judgement?  Doesn’t it ring so true to a God who knows we are dust – who credits our righteousness to us not through test passing but through Christ and what He has done for us already?

And doesn’t it make those who seem to never get those earthly tests like I mentioned earlier, the ones who seem to skate by without a trial in life…. Doesn’t it make you feel a bit sorry for them?  You see, if they are truly not tests but lessons, then there is no learning, no growth, and no purpose there.  As A.W. Tozer states above, God will never use someone greatly in this life unless He tests (provides them lessons to grow and learn) in a deep, meaningful way.

May God keep the tests coming in my life!  May He lovingly show me the lessons I can learn within them!  May He guide me through each one as I grow more deeply in Him – not of my own accord – but resting solely on His grace to see me through!

How about you, my friend? 

God bless!