Testing In The Wait

“Remember that the LORD your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.” Deut. 8:2

An essential element in waiting on God is the acceptance and expectation that we will be tested. Waiting on God during times of testing allows faith to do its work in our lives. Many times God will test us while we are waiting on an unfulfilled promise or need to come to pass. Certain attitudes arise from these times of waiting and testing which can derail God’s purpose.

Many times our circumstances unfold that seem illogical and irrational in God’s promise coming to pass. These circumstances seem to be moving us away from what we believe God has promised us instead of moving us closer. When we hear a word from God we cannot allow our circumstances to cause us to waiver in our faith.

Other times we begin to doubt whether we really heard the message from God or whether we will ever see it come to pass. Our doubt stems from not seeing things lining up on our manufactured timeline and in an expected manner. ‘Doubt separates you from a word from God. Believing what God says is foundational, and acting on what He says is essential.’ By Faith, p. 119.

Another hindrance in our time of testing is our impatience with God’s timing. Proverbs 28:26 states, ‘He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.’ When we become impatient taking matters into our own hands we are implying that our plan is superior to God’s plan. Another implication is that we really must not believe that God is capable enough, willing enough or loving enough.

Sometimes we allow our pain to determine how well we will perform in our testing time. We are instructed by the Bible to expect pain and suffering as ways to refine our faith and increase our righteousness in our faith walk. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering…but rejoice that you participate in … Christ.’ James 1:6.

‘The greater the difficulty in waiting, the greater the joy when God brings His word to pass. Waiting can produce immeasurable joy for a Christian who understands and practices the concept of experiencing joy while waiting. Expect failures, bumps, and miscues along the way. However, as your faith matures, God will use you more and more. Your life will ever-increasingly become a living demonstration of God’s power and glory.’ By Faith, p. 124.