One will never really know where one is, or what one can or cannot accomplish unless that one is tested in that area. The Apostle Paul speaks to that in 2 Corinthians 13.5-9: ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.’ Testing is vital to us all.

And the required testing has a clear purpose which goes far beyond just learning the parameters of one’s abilities, but to put that information to work. Paul continues: ‘Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.’ Failure is as much a part of development as is success.

The point is to realize what must be done now, and then to do it. Paul gives us another word about the process: ‘For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.’ Everything is to be tested until it is proven to be truth. Children push every envelope until they become convinced that only the proper behavior avoids the pain.

Our God has committed to be with us at all times, and particularly close when we are going through any time of testing. Our task as believers is to enable others to succeed in their faith walk. Paul concludes: ‘We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.’ Let’s joyfully enter our faith testing.