Aug162026
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How to Pass When God Tests Us.

God tests us. What does it feel like when God puts us to the test? According to Bible figures who were tested, it feels like they were being scammed. When they tossed Jeremiah in a well to die in the mud. Jeremiah thought, “I was duped. I did everything God wanted me to do, I took a chance and I lost.

God promised Abraham a very large family and lots of land, in fact, he would be the father of many nations. Just after his only son was saved from death, his wife died. He was forced to buy a plot in the cemetery. When he looked at what he had, one sone and a four by eight plot, and contrasted it to God’s promise, he thought, “I took a chance with God, and I lost.”

 When Job lost everything, he told his consoling friends that he took a chance with God and he lost.

The disciples of Jesus left everything to follow Him. Some left great careers, such as the tax collector. He had the dream job of the ancient world.  For doing so, they were promised great treasure in heaven, the twelve tribes of Israel, and eternal life. But before the Master could deliver on the gifts, He was killed. What do you think the disciples thought? “We took a risk, and we lost.”

Jesus called the Syrophoenician woman a dog, unworthy of his gifts and power. How do you think she felt when Jesus rejected her request to save her daughter? That is what it feels like when God tests us.

When we think we are being scammed, we have two options: leave or stay. Jeremiah stayed. Abraham stayed. So did Job and the disciples. The Gentile woman stayed. You could not pull her away if you had ten war horses.

Here is the faith lesson. When we feel like we took a chance with God and lost, we stay. And if we do, we will soon be overcome with a wonderful feeling. The feeling you get when you pass the test.

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