Recently I have spoken to quite a few people who are going through difficult times. A couple of weeks ago I spoke to a friend whose life had been an ongoing series of hardships, one after another. He asked me, “What is the point of troubled times in our lives? I just don’t understand anymore what God is trying to do? What is He trying to teach me? I just don’t know how much more I can take.”

Anyone who has ever taken their faith passed beyond the starting gate has, at one time or another, faced tests. And when facing such tests it’s not always easy. In fact, I would say the most difficult times in my own life have been when I have been undergoing times of testing.

Someone once told me that it’s during the times of testing where we learn the most about ourselves. I believe that times of testing are not so much sent to push us to the limits, but to teach us valuable lessons and draw us closer to the heart of God. Let’s face it, how can we empathize with others unless we have felt their desperation, frustration, and fears? How can we advise others to wait on the Lord if we ourselves have never waited patiently on Him? It’s during such times we learn compassion, to wait patiently, and to respond to the emotional needs of people who have lost hope. It’s when our backs are against the metaphorical wall that we learn what it is to weep with those who weep and empathize with those who are hurting.

Not only that, but many of us speak a good game… we say we want to do great things for God, but when all is said and done we usually don’t have what it takes in and of ourselves to do these great things. Should we be surprised then that when we speak a good game God takes us up on the challenge? And should we be surprised when God begins to work in and through our lives to train us up for such great things?

When we become believers we come as we are, baggage and all. We have to understand that part of the testing process is to help us to unload this baggage and to be corrected – wrongful thinking, habitual addiction, lack of empathy, and our worldly self centered care-less attitudes. The fact is, we are becoming who we will be. This means that the person you are today will not be the same person you will be once you have been through a time of testing and refining. “No pain, no gain,” says the body builder. And this is true in the spiritual realm as well. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.”

To be honest, every great period of personal growth in my life and ministry has been preceded by a major time of testing. And most biographies of great Christian leaders, preachers, pastors, and missionaries, I have ever read contains at least a chapter or two dedicated to their time of testing. So if you’re facing such a time right now I pray that you will keep going and endure through it. And remember that God provides everything we need to get through these times, His strength, His guidance, His provision, and so on; He never leaves us high and dry.

There is so much more the Lord wants to show us, share with us, and have us do, but if we’re not first willing to go through the “training” process then we will never be ready for the bigger and better things to come.

Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
March, 2010

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