After he was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. This was the first step in his ministry journey. He had to be tested to prove he was ready.
This is so key for us to understand: Testing and Trials come before promotion and ministry. It is in the testing and the trials that our faith is refined. It is in the challenging seasons that we are forced to really decide if we believe God’s word or not. This testing is essential to prepare us by building our spiritual muscles. See, the blessing, the ministry, the breakthrough, the promotion, you are wanting is going to be heavy. It’s going to be so good, but it is going to require a lot of strength, grace, and faith to carry it and walk in it well. If you have not built up the muscles, you will be crushed by the weight of it. We see this happen in the world frequently. People win the lottery only to blow it all and end up in worse financial situations than before. People jump into ministry roles and experience burn out, or worse, fall into deep sin holes which wrecks not only their faith but the faith of others as well. This really can happen to anyone, but God doesn’t want it to happen to you, so he gives you opportunities to build your spiritual muscles before he gives you the blessing or ministry.
When we have this perspective, we can look at seasons of testing and trials as seasons of grace from God. He has a plan for us, a plan to prosper and not harm, a plan to give us hope and a future. He promises that all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Part of that plan is the muscle training season. Rather than griping and complaining about the season you are in, choose to see it from God’s perspective - an opportunity to grow, learn, and be refined.
It’s important to note that different areas of life can go through testing at different times. We are holistic beings, so one area affects another, but it is possible to be totally rocking it in one area and struggling in another.
BONUS the quicker we are to step into/stay in faith and gratitude no matter that the outward circumstances are, the faster we will get through those circumstances to our breakthrough, and we will live in a consistent state of joy and peace.
Are you in a season of trial or testing right now? How have you been handling it up till now? How can you shift your perspective to be one of gratitude, joy, and faith in the midst of the trial?
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