what does this test prove?

have you ever taken a test in school that seemed stupid…it didn’t really prove your knowledge on the subject? some tests truly prove your knowledge. they are difficult, but with study and preparation, you prove you’ve learned something. then, there are those exams that leave you wondering what was the teacher thinking?

so often, life is full of tests of our faith in god that leave us questioning what we were meant to learn. my life has been full of many such tests. i could probably write a book on them! so, i will just tell you today about one such instance. i was a healthy 25-year-old pastor’s wife. my life was moving in the direction i felt god leading…and i truly had no complaints. i had direction and focus, and knew where i was going and how i was getting there. the holidays were coming to an end, and as we drove home from my parents on new year’s day, i began to realize i was having difficulty breathing. well, this began several months of doctors’ visits and many soon-to-come symptoms. before i knew it, i was seeing different doctors every week (sometimes every day) as they tried to just diagnose my illness. i was getting sicker and sicker…soon i could barely walk or eat. i was truly questioning god about this test!

what else could i do, but just trust him? i was too weak to even argue with god. i just submitted to him. i knew he didn’t make me sick, but i did ask him why he hadn’t healed me yet. i felt the enemy breathing down my neck, whispering defeat in my ear. i have to admit that made me mad. i remember praying for the test to end. i also remember telling god that he had placed a call on my life, and i couldn’t really fulfil that while lying in bed. that said, all i could do was surrender my will to his, knowing his ways are higher than mine.

today’s encouragement is this: whatever test you face, surrender to god. trust him…the test will prove his great work in you. HE IS GOOD!