If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

Every summer I go to the doctor’s office for an annual exam. I sit in his office and he asks me, “Tony, how are you feeling?”

If I had a good year, I answer, “I’m feeling fine.”

But that’s not the end of my appointment. The doctor doesn’t take my word for it. Instead, he attaches electronic probes all over my body. Then he sticks me on a treadmill. Next he makes the treadmill go faster and faster up an incline because he wants to know the real condition of my heart.

My heart might feel fine to me, but at the same time, it might not be fine. The doctor can determine the strength of my heart only when he measures it under stress. So he creates a stressful situation by having me walk for a long time. He tests my heart to find out whether the way I feel corresponds with how I really am. I could have good feelings yet still have a bad heart.

Living the Christian life is no different. We can go to church every week, sing worship songs, memorize Bible verses, serve on a variety of committees, and assume that our hearts, faith, and souls are strong. We can even express our devotion: “I love you God. God, you are so good. I’ll follow you, God. I’ll do whatever you say.” But God doesn’t want to just take your word for it.

He tests you and me because He wants what is best for us. He tests us because He is getting ready to do something amazing in our lives. He tests us by putting us in stressful scenarios… experiences we often call trials. In a trial, God reveals how strong our faith really is.

Check out more from Dr. Tony Evans @Tonyevans.org