WHY DOES GOD TEST AND TRY US?

Pressure Produces Enlargement
Thou hast enlarged me when I was under pressure" (Ps 4:1 rsv). This Psalm was written by David after the greatest failure of his life — his murderous, adulterous affair with Bathsheba (2Sam 11). Because of his sin, the Lord sent severe judgments on David. One of these was administered at the hands of his son Absalom, who usurped the throne and drove David into exile. Having to flee for his life and suffer horrible indignities brought "enlargement" to David. Even though his problems were of his own making, God graciously used these judgment times to make David a better man for the tasks yet ahead. If we acknowledge our failures and repent (renounce and turn from our sins), God graciously uses the chastisements and sufferings which follow to make us better leaders.

Trials Prove And Humble Us
God wants to discover whether we serve Him because we love Him or whether we serve Him for all the blessings He gives us. Jesus discovered that some followed Him "for the loaves and fishes " (that is, for what they could get from Him, not because they loved Him). Moses described God's actions in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt: "Who led them through that great and terrible wilderness, where there were fiery serpents, and scorpions and drought, where there was no water, who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy/others knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he mightiest thee, to do thee good at thy latter end" (Deut 8:15,16).

Why did God allow such severe tests and trials?
 "To do thee good at thy latter end. " When God plans to enlarge and bless a minister or a church. He first takes them down into depths of discouragement, into the quagmire of hopeless situations. He does it "... so you -would never feel it was your own power and might that made you wealthy [great] ' ' (Deut 8:17). When God gives enlargement, pride often comes in and we think it is because of our own cleverness or gifts that we are enjoying such blessings. Because of God's mercy to save us from pride. He allows very hard times prior to great enlargement and blessing.

This happened in Job's life.
The devil told God, "Job only serves You because You have blessed him with so many material blessings. Take them away and Job will curse You." God responded to Satan's challenge by giving Satan permission to take all Job had. When Satan had killed Job's flocks, herds and children and had destroyed all his property, how did Job respond? Job "fell down upon the ground and worshipped" (Job 1:20). Job proved that Satan's accusations were wrong and that his love for God was genuine. He still worshipped God when his animals, his houses, his children and wealth were all taken away. Job said, "Though God slay me, yet I'll trust him" (Job 13:15). In the end God gave back to Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). Job became recipient of the double portion because he proved himself God's loyal friend even in severe times of test and trial. "For examples of patience in suffering, look at the Lord's prophets.... Job is an example of a man who continued to trust the Lord in sorrow; from his experiences we can see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy ' ' (Jas 5:10,11 tib).

Suffering Can Increase God's Power In Us
If you ask for God's power in your life, you must understand what is required to have it. David said, "He weakened my strength in the way" (Ps 102:23). When you ask for God's power He responds, "Do you really mean it? If you are willing to be reduced to weakness (total dependence on the Lord), and take the suffering, tests and trials that go with it, I'll give you My power."

Paul's Experience, "l am going to boast only about how weak I am and how great God is to use such weakness for his glory.... The experiences I had [of being taken up to Heaven] were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up [full of pride] by them; so I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me, and prick my pride. "Three times I begged God to take it away. Each time he said, 'No. My grace [enablement] is adequate for you. My power [strength] shows up best in weak people. ' .. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite happy about 'the thorn, ' and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong ? the less I have, the more I depend on him" (2CoT 12:5,7-10 tib). Paul teaches us several important lessons about tests and trials in the life of a leader. Among them are:

Beware Of Pride. Valid spiritual experiences during times of prayer can cause us to be prideful.

Depend On God. Our discomfort is less important to God than our character. If our pride needs to be pricked, God will send along a messenger of Satan to make us weak, so we will depend on Him,

Rejoice In Trials. Only through humility and weakness can God's power be manifest in our lives. Hence, we can rejoice in tribulation, hardships and persecution, because we know it can result in God's power and glory being revealed in us. When we start seeking for the power, the glory and the life of the Spirit to be expressed through us, God's response to our petition does not come in the way we expect. We pray for patience, and He sends tribulation. Why? Because "tribulation develops patience " (Rom 5:3). He is answering our prayer, but not the way we thought He would. We must recognize that the buffeting may be "God... working in us to will and to do of his good pleasure "(Phil 2:13).

Affliction Separates The Chosen From The Called "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isa 48:10). In this verse, the word "chosen" is used in the sense of being "graded," as in a school course examination or test. When we do our lessons and take our tests in school, we are "graded" by the teacher on how well we have performed. If we receive a passing grade, we graduate to the next level or grade, one that is more difficult and challenging. How does God determine whether to give me a passing grade? He tests our performance in the furnace of affliction. our response to trials and frustrations is graded. God observes how we react to heavy pressure and difficult, situations. If we respond appropriately He says, "Well done, My good and faithful servant. Now you are ready to pass on to the next course, the next level of difficulty."

As we learn and grow. He presents us with ever harder tasks and continues to test, to grade, to choose. ' 'Many are called but few are chosen ' ' (Matt 20:16). Why are few chosen? Because we are graded in the furnace of affliction, and few of us pass the test for leadership. There is a powerful statement in the Book of Revelation concerning those the Lord Jesus allows to go forth in conquest with Him. "These shall make war with... the Lord of lords and the King of kings and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful ' '(Rev 17:14). Three requirements were essential. You had first to be called, then chosen, and to have proved yourself faithful. Sufferings, trials and tribulations mark the path of those in this company. They've proven themselves worthy to be chosen and have stood faithful to the Lord, even if it meant hazarding their lives for Him.