What Does It Mean When God Tests Us?

When God tests us, He does a valuable thing. A man goes through many tests throughout his life, but the most important test of all is the one given by our Almighty Father. So, if you’re wondering does God test us, He does.

God tests us to see how strong our faith is. He ordains tests for us, not for his sake but for ours. To pass His test is a great achievement for us as Christians, and an equally grand reward awaits those who are able to prove their devotion to our Lord.

What Is Testing?

Testing, depending on the situation, can have a negative feel. There are tests that can cause panic and anxiety in people who are required to take them.

A test is a tool used to assess the capacity and qualifications of a person. A test can be given in different forms, usually as a set of questionnaires or an actual activity.

Sometimes, we can’t help but think that a test was made only to prove how incapacitated or incompetent we are. There are some who would skip the test because they think it is only a waste of time and prevents them from accomplishing other important matters. They would rather not know the things that are making their lives unpleasant and that only a test can reveal.

Dismissing the importance of a test is counterproductive because we are also choosing to stay in our old ways without aspiring for self-improvement. This is true when it comes to God’s testing. Refusing to be tested under the eyes of God is an act of avoidance to build a stronger relationship with our Lord.

How Does The Bible Define Test?

There are different non-English words from the original text of the Bible that can be directly translated into the word “test.” For one, in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “bachan” is used to describe an act that aims to examine, investigate, or prove.

Meanwhile, the Greek word “dokimazo,” which can be found in the New Testament, is also translated to the English word “test” in the latest versions of the Bible. This term refers to a method of approving someone by putting them through an examination.

The Word of God is clear that every person can be subjected to God’s testing. It is an important process that we have to embrace wholeheartedly in our Christian lives. The Bible teaches us that God tests us so as not to make our lives hard. Rather, these tests serve an important purpose.

James 1:2–4 states, “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.” 

The verse explains to us that we meet trials in our lives every day, but we should face them all with pure joy, for these will make us a stronger and better version of ourselves. When God puts us to the test, He measures our faith.

At first, we may not have a strong faith when we encounter God’s testing. However, these tests are just an opportunity for our faith to grow deeper. One day, our faith will be deep enough that no amount of hardships or suffering can topple our devotion to our Almighty Father.

When the foundation of our relationship with God is strong, as the passage says, we are never “lacking in nothing.” Therefore, we must not fret when God tests us. His test is a joyous occasion because it is proof that God cares about us as he continues to find ways for us to get closer to Him.

Why Does God Test Us?

We have already established that the trials we encounter in our Christian lives are required to prove ourselves in the eyes of God. Tests should not be viewed in a negative way, but rather as a chance to develop a more mature relationship with our Lord. 

The trials given to us by God serve a far more important purpose—achieving spiritual maturity. This is yet another reason not to think that God tests us for nothing, for there is a great reward waiting for us when we are able to stand strong as we face trials: the fulfillment of God’s promise of eternal life.

James 1:12 reads, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

The “crown of life” is the ultimate reward after we have successfully proven our faith. This is the same promise God has given mankind since the beginning of time. In the Old Testament, God tested Adam to see if his devotion to Him was strong enough so that he could remain to live in eternal paradise.

Abraham was also put to the test when God told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, to prove his devotion. The ever-faithful servant of the Lord had already proven his faith once when he followed God’s order to leave his native country for Canaan, the land that was promised.

For the second time, God tested Abraham by ordering him to take Isaac to Mount Moriah as a burnt offering. Abraham proved his unwavering faith once more as he bound his dearly beloved son to the altar with a knife in his hand, ready to give the Lord his demand.

Prior to this, Abraham placed his trust in God, knowing that He would not let Isaac be harmed. Abraham believed that God Himself would provide a ram to be used as an offering instead of his son.

From there, the angel of God suddenly appeared to stop Abraham. Just as he expected, the angel provided Abraham with a ram to complete the offering.

The test of Abraham is a perfect example of how God does not intend to make us suffer from the trials given to us, just as he did not intend for Abraham to take the life of his beloved son. Instead, the suffering that we face should only reveal our true faith in God, if we are indeed deserving to join our Almighty Father in heaven.

The same situation applied when God instructed Moses to lead the people of Israel to the promised land. God put His beloved children through a series of tribulations. In spite of the difficult times that they encountered even before reaching Canaan, Moses reminded his people of the abundant life that awaits them when they pass the test.

Deuteronomy 8:2 states, “You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart.” 

Here, the Bible teaches us that God tests us in order to see our true selves in front of Him. While God promised that anyone who believes in Him can live a life forevermore in paradise, we still need to get approval for our faith. Only when our heart’s true desires are revealed can God determine if we are worthy to enter His holy kingdom.

The purpose of God’s tests is explained further in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 1:6–7, the Scripture reads, “In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the proven genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Signs That You Are Tested

God’s word assures that anyone who is willing to suffer grief for the glory of the Almighty Father should receive the blessing of eternal life. However, how we respond to God’s test will be the basis of His judgment[1].

But when does God test us? Is there a way to know if a particular situation is already a test from God? For starters, the moment that we wonder if it is indeed God’s test is already a sign. The moment of confusion and being unable to know what to do next is a test of our morals.

There will be instances where His tests do not make sense, but what we do afterward is crucial if we are to pass the test or not. Remember Abraham’s test—we may find ourselves in a situation where obeying appears to be the best option, but whether we choose to obey or disobey is not the point of the trial. God just wants to know what we truly feel about Him.

Another telling sign of God testing us is the feeling of stress and anxiety. Granted, the point of God’s trial is not to introduce trouble into our lives, but only through the stress caused by His test can we show our genuine response.

God will examine our response to determine the strength of our faith in him. If we choose to lose faith in Him in the face of adversity, then we are also displaying the weakness of the spiritual relationship that we have with Him. Hence, we can say that we are not yet deserving of the spiritual reward from God.

When we face a trial where we feel inadequate, that is also a sign that this trial is given by God. A test that makes us realize our weaknesses, like not having enough skills to perform a task, is God’s way of telling us to step up.

This is similar to the situation given by God to the Israelites when they entered Canaan, as they were surrounded by warring nations. The descendants of Israel were not used to war, but through God’s test, they learned how to defend themselves against those who wanted to destroy them. With guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can gain the right qualities to overcome God’s test. 

Why Do We Fear Testing?

God can give us tests in so many ways. He can put our professional careers, family relationships, and financial stability to the test, which can be very difficult to overcome when these tests are given all at once. The expectation that we will fall short of the challenge is the reason why many people fear God’s testing.

However, we should not view these tests as punishments in our lives. By doing so, we are losing the courage to face the trials head-on. Instead, we choose to avoid being tested because it is the most convenient thing to do. What we don’t realize is that facing the test is our opportunity to reflect on our current moral understanding.

In Jeremiah 17:9–10, the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Only through taking God’s test can we examine ourselves and identify the defects of our character. Our Lord desires that we bear our hearts and spirits to Him as we bravely face His trials.

Conclusion 

God gives us tests, but only to assess our spiritual relationship with Him. The Bible teaches us that we must rejoice that God has given us these trials in our lives, for it is God teaching us to become stronger and more faithful.

Luckily for us, the Almighty Father already gave us the answer on how to pass His tests, and that is through His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. The teachings of Christ should be our guide on how to escape our own personal wilderness.

Keep in mind that our Christian faith produces steadfastness to endure God’s test. We should trust God’s word so that, by overcoming His tests, we can receive the approval to enter the Kingdom of God.