THIS IS ONLY A TEST
“Somewhere in this trial His will must be hidden, and you must accept His will whether known or unknown…Say “Thy will be done!” again and again. Shut out every thought but the one thought of submission to His will and of trust in His love.”
Job 13:15(a) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; [When] He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
I am old enough to remember our family having a T.V., like the one in the picture. It was a special T.V. It had a remote control. When Dad wanted channel 4, he just said, “Tommy, turn it to channel 4..” Worked every time! I also remember the message shown on the T.V. “THIS IS ONLY A TEST. FOR THE NEXT 60 SECONDS, THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST NETWORK WILL CONDUCT A TEST. THIS IS ONLY A TEST” Then poof, back to the regularly scheduled program.
This Christian life requires many tests (trials) to be conducted. It is unpleasant, sometimes down right grueling and never convenient but Peter tells us that it is mandatory.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
I have given a lot of thought to Job’s words over the years. I have been through hard and lonely places, where I have thought, “There must be something really awful about me that I have to go through things like this.” Dear reader, you are not alone, you are not the only one. Fiery testings and trials are common to all lovers of Jesus. No matter what the devil is saying to you, God is with you. God is for you. Trust Him! You will be very pleased when He reveals the golden masterpiece He has made out of you and your faith!
THIS IS ONLY A TEST!
Every blessing!
—Tom