Bible Questions & Answers Archive 

 Trials and Testings
By Dr. Max D. Younce
0023

 Question 

Why does God seemingly put Christians through so many trials and testings?

 Answer 

Remember, when God chastens a Christian for continued disobedience, it is to bring them back to where they left serving the Lord. God tests the Christian to bring them on further into maturity. No one really knows what they are worth until they are tested. A testing today will be a blessing in the future, as we learn what Christ meant when he said in Hebrews 13:5 "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,," and having full assurance, knowing "...that all things work together for good to them that love God..." A couple of examples.

1. The Testing: Deuteronomy 8:2, "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD they God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to PROVE thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." The Blessing: To give them the land of Canaan where they would have more than they could want (Verses 7-10). (See also Exodus 16:4).

2. The feeding of 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two sardines. Actually, there were a few thousand more. In John 6:10 there were 5,000 men. The same account in Matthew 14:21 adds "...besides women and children." Here Christ tested Phillip. Notice in Verse 5, "...He saith unto Phillip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to PROVE him (Phillip): for he himself (Christ) knew what he would do." (Verse 6).

3. Daniel and three friends, when in captivity refused to drink the king’s wine or eat his provisions when they were ordered to do so. This was a tremendous testing to prove their faithfulness to God and to experience His faithfulness to them. This was a risk to their lives and those in charge of them. In Chapter 1, Verse 12, Daniel stated, "PROVE thy servants..." Daniel was a teenager at this time. What faith!

Every Christian is going to be tested all through his or her life. After the testing always comes the blessing, then look for another testing! Testings and blessings! This is part of the Christian life. Remember I Peter 1:7, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Testings in our life produce the confidence we have in Jesus Christ that, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)