“Good morning class. Clear your desk. We have a surprise test today”.  Do you remember the agony and the butterflies that filled your stomach when the teacher would announce a surprise test? They never came at a good time. Very seldom were we prepared for them. If only I had studied, we think to ourselves, I would be alright.  Why today? Why not tomorrow? I will be ready tomorrow,  we think. Just not today,  we cry to ourselves. Well, just as in school, we get surprise tests in life. You never really know when it is going to strike, but, rest assure, it is coming. Just as in school, we knew that surprise tests were part of the curriculum. We were told on the first day of class that surprise tests were coming. We knew that we should study on a regular basis so that we would be ready. We just didn’t think it would be today. Not today.

We have been told in the Bible that there will be tests. Most of them have an element of surprise. We may get forewarning through prophecy, word of wisdom or a word of knowledge. However, the exact timing and nature of our test are rarely revealed ahead of time. One moment things are alright and the next moment we are in the fight of our lives, or so it seems.

Why do we have tests? In school, the teacher usually tests us to see if we have gained the knowledge that we should have up to that point. The test will show which areas we are strong in and which areas need additional work. The same applies to our faith. We are tested to see if we have obtained the knowledge of God that we should have at this time. And just as with school, if you fail the test, you will have to retake it.

When our faith is tried, it achieves patience in our lives.  Patience is the key to getting us to where we are mature, complete and lacking nothing.

Unfortunately, there are no short cuts or magic formulas. The only way for us to achieve the patience in our lives that God desires is through the trying of our faith.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:3

Everything we know about God will be tested in this life. Every revelation we receive from God, every Word of God that we cling to will be tried. Therefore, we are told in the Bible not to think that something strange is happening when we go through trials and tribulations that test us. This trial is going to bring us into a place of praise, honor and glory in Jesus Christ.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 1 Peter 4:12

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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7

We need our faith to be tested. Without the testing of our faith, we have no witness of the goodness of God. We also do not have what it takes to move to the next level in God. Each successful test of our faith moves us to a higher level. Just as in school, you must pass the test before you can receive the promotion to a higher grade. Well, why can’t I just stay here, we say to ourselves.  Why do I have to move to a higher level? The reason is that you will become stagnant if you stay at the same level. Can you imagine being 40 years old and still in the pre-school?  You cannot do the things that are expected of a 40 year old because you have not been taught those things. You cannot go shopping, you cannot live on your own, you cannot even determine your own meals on a regular basis. Why? Perhaps you have not been taught. You are not ready for the real world.

God tries our hearts. He must do this so that we are ready to move to higher levels in Him. How can we become great men and women of faith when we cannot past any faith tests? It is hard to believe God to cure cancer when we cannot believe Him for a headache.

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. Proverbs 17:3

So, let us look at our situation as a test. A test that we can pass! We know we can pass it because our faith is in tack and it is full of endurance. We trust God and we know that without trust and faith in God, it is impossible to please Him. We want to be pleasing to God. In addition to that, God has promised to reward us for our endurance. We have a special crown awaiting us in glory.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

Therefore, we can proclaim as Job did when his faith was tested.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10.