Your Daily Devotional for June 1, 2007

 

June 1,  2007

 

 

The Testing of Our Faith

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

 

James 1:2-4

 

 

Sometimes in the development of our faith, God will place us into a waiting process. While we may pray for something to happen immediately, God wishes to test our faith through a time of waiting.

 

James 1:2 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." The Bible does not say if we fall into temptations; it says when. That word "temptation" can either mean an enticing to sin or a testing or trial. God tells us that there will be difficult times that come into our lives. But He tells us that we must embrace God's trying of our faith and patiently endure it.

 

As we endure the testing of our faith, we must wait joyfully. Our verse tells us to "count it all joy" when these times come! Second Corinthians 12:9-10 says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Because Christ's grace is sufficient during our trials, we can have joy while we endure the testing of our faith.

 

We must view our trials as learning opportunities. If we always look at our trials in a negative light, we will not be able to experience the growth God wants to accomplish in our lives through the trial. We must remain surrendered to God with a joyful attitude during our trials. 

 

Not only should we wait joyfully during difficult times but we must also wait patiently. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." God has a purpose in everything that happens to us. He sometimes places trials or difficulties in our lives in order to grow us or test our faith. When He does, we must have patience, knowing that He is seeking to draw us closer to Him.

 

Someone once said, "God has not promised to make us comfortable but to make us conformable." God desires that we would conform to Him and many times that requires a time of testing. He places trials in our lives to test and grow our faith so we will conform to the image of His Son. We should not become upset or angry with God, but we must joyfully and patiently wait for God to grow our faith.

 

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Is God testing your faith today? God's plan for our lives will include the testing of our faith. We must accept these times and let Him work in our lives. Ask Christ to help you wait patiently and joyfully as He works in your life to perfect your faith today.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 15-16 • John 12:27-50

 

 

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