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Tested by God

10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried
…
12 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

Psalms 66:10,12

We know that, from time to time, God tests us. In today’s passage of Scripture, we see the word “tested.” This word means “to test, to investigate.” Like in British Police shows, God assigns us to difficult cases, ones that test our moral fiber and faithful obedience while facing insurmountable odds.

Unlike imaginary tv shows, God’s tests are real and they often tear at our faith as God investigates whether we have true faith or cheap imitations. God investigates us, not for His knowledge, but for ours. He wants us to know if we are obedient to Him in spite of suffering and loss. Will we be like Jesus or fall back into worldliness? We need to know us.

Just as refining puts silver into immense heat, causing the impurities to leave the silver and flow to the top, where the refiner removes the dross, so God’s tests often put us under immense pressure to bring out our impurities to be removed. In the end, if we pass God’s test, He brings us out to a place of abundance. God is so good to us. He cares more about our future than we do!