This is a Test

Children are notorious for asking Why? to which we adults are notorious for answering Because I said so! Much of the time when we give that answer, we know that the child won’t understand the reasons, so what we are really saying is, Trust me. I know what I’m doing. Ironically, we adult Christians often ask God the same question: Why? Much of the time when we ask God this question, we are not complaining about our situation (although sometimes we are) or want things to change (although sometimes we do) but we just want an explanation. We want to understand. God knows, however, that even if he told us, we would not understand. Why? (There’s that question again!) Because we don’t think like God. We can’t think like God. Therefore, his answer is usually Trust me. I know what I’m doing.

Stubborn people that we are, we still persist with our question, so if we absolutely must have an answer, then here it is: It’s a test. Why must our faith be tested? (Again, note the question!) Because “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”¹ That’s what we need to understand. The only way we will become steadfast is to go through testing. Why is it so important to be steadfast? (Now the fourth time we have asked it!) If we are not steadfast, we will crumble under every bad and uncomfortable situation. If we are not steadfast, we will be “driven and tossed by the wind.”² If we are not steadfast, we will not “receive anything from the Lord.”³ What? God will withhold giving us things? Yes! Why would a loving God do that? (The fifth time!) Because our unbelief is getting in the way—like the time Jesus was at his hometown and everyone became angry and offended by what he was saying “and he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”⁴

All God requires of us is to trust him, to believe in him. Perhaps we should stop asking Why? so much. Other questions are completely understandable and Jesus tells us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”⁵  So, yes, ask questions—but the Why? really needs to stop. Instead of trying to understand God’s reasons, we need to trust that he knows what he is doing and heed James’ instructions: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”¹

The trial is a test. The next time we are experiencing a trial (which includes anything that is not going our preferred way), we should pretend to hear a high-pitched sustained note (like the Emergency Broadcast System uses) and listen to the voice declaring, This is a test! Then what do we do? (This is a good question, by the way.) Wait for instructions and be confident (maybe even joyful) because we knew this day would come and we are prepared!

¹James 1:3   ²James 1:6   ³James 1:7   ⁴Matthew 14:58   ⁵Matthew 7:7