Something that I have really been noticing is this pattern for new believers to come to the faith, then within weeks, lose all sense of fervor they once held for what they believed in. And the fault lies with the fact that we don’t equip new believers well enough for the truth of the difficulties that lie ahead in seasons that require the testing of faith. Too often we present faith as a ‘cool’ badge to wear by making Christianity into this culturally appropriate and likable community. However, in reality, this couldn’t be further from what believing in the Bible and its gospel message is truly about.

The circumstances of life certainly do not become easier when we embrace the call of our Creator. Rather, we have been told again and again throughout Scripture that the world that we live in is broken and sinful, so troubles will not fade away, but we have something good that we can fasten our hope onto… the victory Christ won for us on the cross.

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:32-33

Little Note of Encouragement for the Girl Whose Faith is Being Tested

I’m never one for shying away from trying to destroy idealistic misconceptions of what being a follower of the cross is all about. So this post is to pull you off from whatever pedestal you are on (because let’s face it, ALL of us are on one!), humble you and bring you to the knees in the presence of your Creator. Here you will be convicted, but encouraged and I hope you will cling onto the hope that is our Saviour Jesus Christ!

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Why Does God Test Our Faith?

Great question.

There is no doubt that our faith will be tested because of the warnings of hardship we are promised that we will face in scripture. But while we might be quick to say that every test comes from the work of the enemy, I would like to challenge this belief by presenting to you the biblical inaccuracy of this statement.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. — James 1:2-4

Sometimes people interchange ‘temptations’ with ‘trials’. But this is not accurate and for a more in-depth look into why, check out this blog post here. But the brief summary is that there is a very clear difference between “tests” and “temptations”.

So why does God test our faith?

Tests are allowed by God so that we may come to know how trustworthy and faithful He is during those hard times; so that we can come to know His grace truly is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). Temptations, on the other hand, are an enticement to sin; a desire stirred up by the enemy of our soul that he might cause us to stray. For every temptation, God provides a way out if we look for it and then choose to take it (1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Peter 2:9). And due to the fact that we do have a powerful enemy, we must be on alert that the devil will most certainly try to tempt us during the test that God has set before us.

However, we must be careful because it can be so easy to point to the enemy and immediately attribute every discomfort that we face as something ‘not of God’. But the truth of the matter is, we are told and shown again and again, that God does test our faith because it leads to something good.

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What to Do When Your Faith is Tested

Testing of Faith Tip #1: Ground Yourself in Scripture and Remind Yourself of Truth

The greatest danger during any testing of faith moment is the fact that the enemy will try to take advantage of your circumstances to pull you towards temptation. However, our Father and our Creator is our strength and refuge. He has everything under control during each and every test, and we should always remember that He has a way out for any temptation that comes your way. While He will most certainly give you things that you can not handle, it is only because He has also given you access to the One who can handle it all! So, in any and every testing of faith moment, ground yourself in Scripture and remind yourself of biblical truth because in every moment when your faith is tested, your faith is strengthened when you hear the message through the word about Christ.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. — Romans 10:17

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Testing of Faith Tip #2: Praying to God to Strengthen You When Your Faith is Tested

When God tests our faith, He doesn’t present to you an impossible situation. Rather, He has given you everything you could possibly need to go through such a moment… Him. When your faith is tested by fire, you will not be able to overcome the challenges on your own, but when you lean on His strength and His refuge to get you through, no difficult circumstance will defeat you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

So in those moments when you don’t feel strong enough to face the test that is set before you, pray to the one who is strong enough to carry you through. You are not alone… and there is a way out… and it is in Him! Give Him all the control.

Click the image below to grab your FREE devotional on How to Trust God When Your Faith is Tested! Trusting God in hard times can be a challenge, but check out this devotional to learn more about what God has in store for you!

Testing of Faith Tip #3: Cut Out Unnecessary Distractions and Live with Discipline

So often we can get distracted by the world and all the glittering ✨ false promises it offers. In today’s day and age, it is incredibly normal to have people lose sight of what is good and true because of the endless noise and chatter around them. And we ought to be very careful if we think that we are incredibly wise and strong. Remember just how easy it is to slip and fall when our faith is tested.

It is so much easier to succumb to the pleasures of the world when we are feeling downtrodden, defeated and tired. But in this season of hardship, minimize those unnecessary distractions around you and live a life of discipline. If you keep your focus centered on God, it will be so much easier to lean on the strength of God so that you will not fall into temptation during the test.

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. — Proverbs 25:28

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Testing of Faith Tip #4: Identify Strongholds in Your Life and Give Them Up to the Lord

Let’s be honest. From self-righteous prayers and prideful behaviour, we’re all terrible at truly walking with the Lord. In fact, we are people who want control over our own lives. We naturally want to fight and struggle with Him. But when your faith is being tested by fire, it is often a time that God uses to identify strongholds in your life. He wants you to identify these areas that you are refusing to give up control over and submit it all to Him.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Testing of Faith Tip #5: Remember Just Who God is and Who You are in Christ

I too have experienced love lost, hardships, betrayal, financial struggles, worries about the future and doubt. But it comforts me to be reminded that even when I’m going through ‘testing of faith’ moments that leave me wanting to hide away from everyone and everything, the circumstances that I am in aren’t unforeseen or uncontrollable by my sovereign Creator. My joy comes from being able to remember just who God is and my identity in Christ. He tells me that I can rejoice. This is because even in hardship, He is a loving Father who works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and He says I am victorious because of Him (Romans 8:37). If we have a God who has everything under control and He is working on our behalf, why should any test that comes our way cause us to feel defeat?

More Than Conquerors

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:31-39

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Final Word to My Sweet Friend 💕

Hey sweet friend! I would love to know if God has been challenging you in your faith! Share your thoughts in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you and be able to pray for you!

Click the image below to grab your FREE devotional on How to Trust God When Your Faith is Tested! Trusting God in hard times can be a challenge, but check out this devotional to learn more about what God has in store for you!

Here are Some Other Relevant to Resources You Might Like…

If you liked this blog post on these 5 biblical tips for those ‘testing of faith’ moments, you might also like these blog posts…

—> Popular Biblical Untruth: God Won’t Give Your More than You Can Handle (+ free beautiful, printable devotional)

—> 10 Signs of a Lukewarm Christian | Jesus Didn’t Die for You to Be a Halfhearted Christian (+ free beautiful, printable devotional)

—> The Practical Guide on How to Discern God’s Voice From Your Own (+ free workbook)

—> The Truth About Walking with God | The Gospel Doesn’t Need a Flashy Outfit (+ free, beautiful, printable devotional)

—> Your Practical Guide on How to Stop Being a Lukewarm Christian (+ free, beautiful, printable devotional)

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