"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart." (Proverbs 17:3 NLT)
Being tested by God has been misunderstood by many. It is clear in the scriptures that God does test us. However, God does not send sickness, disease, or calamity into our lives to test us. Those things steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to give us abundant life.
He warned us in John 16:33 that we’d encounter trouble in the world but then encouraged us by telling us he had overcome it.
Being tested by God is a matter of the heart and for a specific purpose. Understanding why God tests us will empower us to endure the tests and find joy in them.
Why Does God Test Us?
In biblical and Christian teaching, God tests individuals for several reasons, with the primary purpose being to refine and strengthen their faith, character, and relationship with Him. While the concept of God testing people is found throughout the Bible, it's essential to understand that these tests are not intended to harm or tempt people but to help them grow spiritually and draw closer to God. Here are some reasons why God may test believers:
Spiritual Growth: God's tests often challenge a person's faith and trust in Him. By facing trials and difficulties, individuals have the opportunity to grow spiritually, deepening their dependence on God. This process can lead to a stronger, more mature faith.
Purification: Trials and tests can purify a person's character. They reveal areas of weakness, sin, or imperfection, allowing individuals to confront and address these issues in their lives. The process of refining is often compared to purifying gold or silver in the Bible (Malachi 3:3).
Preparation for Service: God may test individuals to prepare them for a specific calling or ministry. The experiences gained through testing can equip believers to serve God more effectively and empathetically in their future roles.
Revealing His Plan: Tests can be a way for God to reveal His divine plan or purpose for someone's life. When faced with challenging circumstances, individuals may seek God's guidance and discover their intended path.
Strengthening Perseverance: Testing can help believers develop perseverance and endurance. The process of facing and overcoming trials can equip individuals to withstand future challenges and remain faithful in their walk with God.
Faith and Trust: God's tests often target a person's faith and trust in Him. Through these trials, individuals are given the opportunity to reaffirm their trust in God, even in the face of uncertainty and difficulty.
Demonstrating Faithfulness: God sometimes tests people to demonstrate their faithfulness and commitment to Him. The story of Abraham and Isaac, where God tested Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22), is a well-known example of this kind of test.
Discernment and Wisdom: Tests can also help individuals develop discernment and wisdom. By seeking God's guidance and making decisions in difficult circumstances, they can grow in their ability to make godly choices.
It's important to note that while God allows tests and trials, He does not tempt people to sin. The Apostle James clarifies this distinction in James 1:13: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." God's tests are intended for growth and refinement, not for leading individuals into sin.
In summary, God's tests in biblical and Christian teaching serve as opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, purification, and deepening one's relationship with Him. They are part of God's loving and purposeful plan for His followers.
How the Bible Defines Test
The Hebrew word translated as “test” in the Old Testament is bachan. It means to “examine, investigate, prove, scrutinize.” “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3, NLT).
The Greek word translated as “test” in the New Testament is dokimazo. It means to “put to the test, prove, examine, and, by implication, to approve.”
In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, it says, “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts,” The same Greek word is used for both “approved” and “tests.”
Passing a test is a joyous occasion where we emerge approved.
Why We Fear Testing from God
When we are nervous to be tested, it reveals something about us. Either we are unprepared, or we are unaware of what we know. When we’re unprepared, we shrink back, expecting to fail the test, and fear is a natural response when we’re uncertain of the outcome.
The Bible tells us:
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 (Jeremiah 17:9-10, ASV).
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45).
We fear to be tested because we fear a negative outcome and/or are afraid of why God is doing the testing.
God's Purpose for Testing Us
The objective of testing is to discover the truth. In school, it’s to see if we’ve learned what has been taught. Some teachers make tests exceptionally difficult, trying to fail students, and there are those who delight in the success of their students.
God is love and wants us to succeed. When he tests us, he wants to see if our faith in him is real. If we fall short, he takes pleasure in teaching us so we can pass the next time. When our faith proves genuine, he can reward us.
Our faith in God is precious to him. The Bible puts it this way in 1 Peter 1:7,
Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns (CEV).
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (NIV).
God tests us because he loves us dearly and wants us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of him. This is why the Bible tells us we can rejoice when being tested.
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 1:1-2, ESV).
God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him (James 1:12, CEV).
What Does God Testing Us Mean?
Being tested by God is simply part of the process of becoming more like him. The more we lean into him, the more grace he can pour on us.
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Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. She’s written Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, Because You Matter, and hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Danielle https://www.daniellebernock.com/
