Tests
Sweat dripping down your back. Legs aching. Hating every minute of it. That’s football practice in August. You’re standing in the sun, resetting over and over, your muscles screaming, your mind begging for mercy. You hate the coach. You hate the process. You’re questioning why you ever signed up in the first place.
And yet… game day comes, and it all makes sense. Every miserable drill, every moment of frustration, every ounce of effort suddenly pays off. You look back and realize that all that “misery” prepared you for the big moment.
Life’s trials work the same way. They’re not always fun. They’re often exhausting. Sometimes, they feel unfair. But just like that grueling practice, God’s testing in our lives is meant to refine us, prepare us, and strengthen us for what’s ahead.
The challenge is that life isn’t always clear about what’s a test and what’s a temptation. They feel similar—they’re uncomfortable, they push us, and they make us choose—but their goals are very different.
Temptation vs. Testing
Temptation is a destroyer. It comes either from within or from Satan, and it always targets something we want but shouldn’t have. Its goal is simple: to get us to fail. Temptation promises a quick hit of satisfaction, a momentary escape, but ultimately it pulls us away from God’s best.
Testing, on the other hand, comes from God. Its goal isn’t to see us fail; it’s to see us grow. Testing isn’t about what we want—it’s about what God wants for us. A test pushes us to do something difficult, something we might resist, but something that will make us stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next stage of life.
So how can you tell the difference? Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
If it’s pulling you toward something you want but shouldn’t, run. That’s temptation.
If it’s pushing you toward something you should do but don’t want to, hold on. That’s a test.
Take marriage as an example. If someone outside your marriage offers a shortcut to excitement or “fun,” that’s temptation—something that destroys. But if your spouse faces illness, depression, or job loss, and you’re being challenged to stay faithful and loving through it, that’s a test. Temptation wants to steal your joy; testing wants to build your character.
Why God Tests Us
Think about the best coaches, teachers, or mentors you’ve had in life. They push you because they see potential you can’t yet see. They don’t give up on you. They know that the effort is worth it because the payoff is greater than the struggle. That’s exactly how God tests us.
Tests show that God:
Believes in your potential even when you can’t see it.
Is invested in your growth.
Wants to prepare you for the next stage of life.
Testing is like the process of refining precious metal. Gold and silver are put in fire until impurities are removed. Wool goes through harsh soap until it’s clean and usable. Testing removes the things that hold us back and shapes us into people who can withstand life’s challenges.
It’s painful. It’s uncomfortable. But the result is lasting. You become stronger, wiser, and more prepared for God’s purpose in your life.
Facing Trials with Joy
Peter talks about this in 1 Peter 4:12–13:
“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”
Fiery trials are the refining process that makes you valuable and strong. And yes, rejoicing in trials sounds impossible, but it’s a recognition that God is at work. If all you can see is the misery, you’ll never rejoice, but if you can look ahead to the results, you can.
Think about it: no coach pushes players they don’t believe in. God’s tests show He sees something in you. He believes you’re capable of growth, of endurance, of faithfulness. That’s why we can endure trials with joy—even when the struggle is intense.
Not All Suffering Is a Test
That doesn’t mean that every painful moment is a test from God. Some suffering comes from bad choices or poor decisions. Peter says:
“Let none of you suffer as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or as a meddler.”
Some problems are just consequences. Filing bankruptcy because you overspend? Consequence. Getting written up because you’re gossiping at work? Consequence. Losing your marriage because of an affair? Consequence.
Tests, however, come when you’re doing what’s right but facing challenges anyway. They happen when God wants to refine your faith and shape your character. Even small struggles matter because God uses them to build perseverance and prepare you for bigger things.
Enduring Tests in Everyday Life
Tests show up everywhere. At work, in relationships, in parenting, and even in our own hearts. How do we face them?
Recognize what you’re facing: temptation or testing.
Endure with purpose. The effort matters even when it’s uncomfortable.
Keep perspective: the goal is growth, not immediate comfort.
Celebrate the refining work. God is shaping you even in hardship.
Trust God. Your soul is safe in His hands.
Think of life as a series of game days. You learn, you practice, you get tested, and then you move on to the next level. Kindergarten becomes Algebra, then Calculus. Parenting toddlers becomes parenting teenagers then trying not to parent adults. The prime of life becomes old age. Growth always requires testing.
How to Respond
Here’s how to approach life’s tests:
Run from temptation. Don’t be fooled by short-term satisfaction.
Endure testing. Keep your eyes on the goal.
Rejoice in growth. Celebrate what God is doing in you.
Trust God’s plan. Your soul is secure with Him.
Every trial is an opportunity to see God’s love, grow beyond your limits, and prepare for the next level of life.
The Bottom Line
God’s tests are not punishments—they are acts of love. You can either:
Sulk through the struggle, or
Embrace it, endure it, and grow.
Every drop of sweat, every frustrating moment, every fiery trial is God shaping you for something greater. Don’t hate the practice. Trust Him. Pass the test. And enjoy the victory waiting for you on the other side.
