Passing the Test...

Passing the Test...

Danielle Joyner Kelley

March 31, 2009

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12.

One of the synonyms for Patience is long-suffering. Whenever something happens to us in life, we tend to ask "why", and only through the time period of enduring that event do we start to ask the question "when". When is this going to end? When will things get better? But most of us only ask the "why" and refuse to accept what is happening in order to ask the "when". Confusing? Let me explain.

The "when" is one of the most crucial portions of the test that has been handed to you. How you handle the time when you are asking "when" is the key to your future. The scripture above tells us to be "...patient in affliction...". That means when something bad is happening in your life you need to be patient through it. Easier said than done right? The answer to that depends on the strength of your faith.

As a Christian, it is best to accept the fact that your faith will be tested. The reason why is because it is a test to strengthen you to face challenges that will continue to come throughout life. Why would a loving God give us challenges? Why can't He just jump in and make it all better? Because He knows that you have to have faith to get there. You have to believe in the "unseen". Why? Because it is the only way to true happiness and everlasting life.

God also wants justice done in life. For example, when you turn on the news and read about a little child who was kidnapped and killed, what do you want to do to the murderer? You want justice. Guess what? So does God. He has to keep things in check here on Earth, and the consequences of sin is the best way to do it. So take each bad thing that happens and start looking for the good. It is a test, but it will make you so much better. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6.

As humans we always want some kind of confirmation of who we think we are. We take personality tests, Facebook quizzes (yes I am guilty as charged), and seek out things that tell us what we already believed was true about ourselves. When we get that right answer we say, "Yes, that is definitely me." We are constantly trying to "define" ourselves. Is the reason we do this because we don't really know ourselves that well or is it that we are seeking a confirmation that others see us the way we see ourselves? Do we want to show off what some test says about us to make others think we are better than we already believe ourselves to be? If so, why are we so concerned about what others think? Why are we not concerned with what God thinks?

During the "when" of a storm in your life, you have a golden opportunity to get to know yourself and God better. Learning about yourself while suffering teaches you more about yourself than anything else ever could. This time period has tremendous growth potential for you. Use it. As C.S. Lewis stated, "This moment contains all moments." How you handle the future and use the past lessons in life depends on how you are handling this moment right now. We are shaping the outcome at every second. That is when you are truly living in faith. You don't know the future and it is "unseen", but you are preparing yourself for it by the way you act right now. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1.

The problem is that as soon as we get to the "when" our faith starts to shake. How often have you told yourself you would stick through it because you won't have to endure much more only to find out that it is taking longer than expected? How often have you told yourself things could not get any worse only to find out they got much worse? You were sure the pain would subside soon, and it did not. Then you get angry because you have been praying for God to end your suffering and you realize He has not. You think He is ignoring you, and you want to give up. What you do at this very moment is the difference between life and death.

Many of us blame God, get angry and turn away. We start trying to fix everything ourselves because we are convinced that He is not listening. But know this - He is doing more than just listening, He is also watching, and He is taking notes. He knows that He never promised us everything would be easy, and that sometimes we will face challenges to make us better. Your pain is not ending yet because there is still more to learn from the situation, so dust yourself off, get back up, and get back to learning. You have to tell yourself that He is trying to better you no matter what your circumstance is. When you force yourself to work at it just when it gets the hardest, at the point where it is so unbearable you are about to let go, is the exact moment He will catch you. In the meantime you have to tell yourself there is a bigger plan unfolding here - a lot bigger than you can imagine. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5.

When you finally realize this and you decide you are going to continue to trust in God, wait this problem out, and give it to Him to fix, guess what? You are then being "...patient in affliction...". You are to wait for Him. We are on His time schedule and not our own. You are to "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..." Psalm 37.7. He can see your eternity right now and the eternity of those around you. He knows it all, and you only know a moment in time. Everything is made perfect in his timing. For example, for almost my entire lifetime I have tried to find a church. I went to so many different ones, all different denominations or non-denominational, and never felt what people would call "spiritually fed". I counted the other day and I have been to over 25 different churches in my lifetime. Meanwhile, I stayed home and watched Pastors on television, and kept praying to find a church.

Last year I decided to give it a try again. I asked around and made up my mind that I was going to pick between three different churches. One Sunday morning I got up early (not on purpose) and went to the websites of those three churches. One sounded appealing so I looked online for a map and another 4th church popped up. I had not heard of it but a website popped up on a link under the name. I clicked on it and the next thing I knew we were all going there. It was the perfect sermon for us that morning. My husband's reaction was unbelievable. Everyone was so kind and loving, and we immediately fell in love.

Why would I go to so many churches before this one and it never worked out for me? Why did everything go so perfect that Sunday? Because God's timing is perfect, whether we like it or not. Perhaps if I had gone to that church one week sooner I would not have had a great experience. Maybe if I went one week later my husband would have been in a horrible mood and not loved it so much. God knew how much I wanted to find a church and He sent me the right one at the right time for us. We have to remember He has a plan in store for you and nothing you will do will change that. He knows the explanation of why it is happening now, but you don't. You have to trust Him. Learn to give yourself over to the bigger picture being painted.

When things come to a head is when you are most likely to realize you are really and truly not alone and that He is with you. That is when you jump on that opportunity and grow your faith in Him. But you have to be willing to endure the storm and continue to have faith in Him. And when you do and you are "patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" you will begin to be "joyful in hope...". He is your hope and what will get you through this. Don't just believe that - KNOW it, and experience the joy of such a wonderful God who is taking the time to teach you a valuable lesson. Don't let your suffering be in vain. Use it to your advantage. You went through it for a reason didn't you? Knowing that will add worth to your suffering. As humans we all want to believe "everything happens for a reason". And you have the ability to make sure it does. The trick is you have to do it through Him. And your suffering is what it is - it is Him giving you that opportunity. C.S. Lewis also once said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Let Him show others what He can do through you.

And keep your patience through reminding yourself you are on His timing. Once our Pastor compared beginning the Christian walk to a baseball diamond. When you get to first base, you are exploring Christianity. On second base, you have accepted Christ and are putting Him in control of your life. On third base, you are beginning to minister to others and serve God (at the church or in a Bible study, etc.). When you come around to home plate, you begin to see Him working strongly in your life. I immediately thought, "If He would work first then more people would believe." Yes, that is true, but if it happened that way everyone would get the reward without the work. How often do we complain that someone gets something without working for it? It is after you accept Him, better yourself, and serve others that you "reap" what you have actually taken the time and effort to "sow". Then you are at then end of it and can look back and understand "why" it had to happen, and appreciate the "when" of all your efforts. "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." Ecclesiastes 7:8.

The "when" is the time that truly teaches you. It will also teach others. God will work through you in ways you could never have imagined - take it from someone who is now crossing home plate after many dark and painful nights. That does not mean no storms will pop up later, it just means that when they do your spirit is not afraid. Instead you will walk through the storm thanking God for the chance to learn, and asking Him what you can do with your knowledge of it. Trust me, I have, and you are reading His answer to me right now.