Reading for today: Genesis 22 – Abraham Tested
Faith and Trials
Often, as Christians, our focus is on the blessings and not the process. We forget that in the middle, there’s a process of testing, refinement, and consecration. We often see our brothers’ and sisters’ answered prayers or success, focusing only on the result, without acknowledging that they might have gone through a long process before God answered their prayers.
When we look at the story of Abraham, God tested him, but it doesn’t say that God tempted him. Now, imagine being in Abraham’s shoes. Your father is rich, but God calls you to leave all that behind and go to a place where He “will” tell you, testing your faith. Abraham’s father was wealthy, and he probably had maids and servants catering to him. But when God called, Abraham obeyed. He stepped out in faith.
Not only did Abraham obey, but God was also processing and teaching him about faith. We all know the story of Abraham—that God promised him a son at 75 years old, yet even after 25 years, the promise hadn’t come. But he stood by the word of God, despite the reality. It was a test of faith, not a temptation of faith. God did this because He had a plan for Abraham.
We must understand that God tested Abraham so He could finish the work He started in him. Abraham demonstrated his supreme love for God by obeying Him, regardless of what He demanded. Meanwhile, we often hold things tightly from God, even if He asks us to release or surrender them to Him.
If we are honest, there are often things we keep away from God because we fear He will demand them from us. We fear God will ask us to give up the very thing we love or that He will take too long, so we act in our own way, only to return to Him when we’ve made a mess.
A brother once went to Compass to borrow money, and when I asked if he had consulted God about it, he said that if he had asked God, the answer would have been no. So, he ignored God and took a big risk. We often have a “know-it-all” attitude, and then ask God to clean up our mess. And God, rich in mercy and love, does — but He requires us to take responsibility and help clean up our own mess. He will give us the wisdom and strength to do the right thing, but we must do our part.
James 1: 2 – 8 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Do we count it as joy when we face trials? We should know that trials produce patience. When we pray for patience, God gives us trials so that through them, we will develop patience.
When God saw that His work was complete in Abraham, He released His blessings in full. How about us? Are we willing to work together with God and go through the process? Sometimes, we blame the devil, but often the problem is us!
When God tests us, we should consider it an opportunity to demonstrate our love for Him. When Jesus was on earth, right after His baptism, He was tempted, not tested. It was the devil tempting His humanity. But He overcame the enemy using the Word. And what about us? We have both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to subdue the old man. Temptations provoke the old man to resurface, while testing brings forward the new creation God has made us to be. Abraham followed and obeyed God.
Most of the miracles Jesus performed were because of faith. Romans 12:3 says that each of us has been given a measure of faith. Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
To Abraham, Isaac represented his prayer life and patience in waiting for God’s promise. Isaac represented God’s prophetic promise to him, as well as Abraham’s future. When God asked for Isaac, He was asking for Abraham’s future.
If we were in his position, the devil would surely try to convince us that we heard God wrong, or we might fear that God would destroy our future. But Abraham believed that the same God who made it possible for him to have children at the age of 100 could resurrect Isaac if necessary.
Hebrew 11:19 (NIV)
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
How to stop worrying and Trust God
Do you believe that your life is in good hands? Do you believe that God can resurrect your children? Every day, we worry about many things. We get anxious about what we will eat, how the future will be for our children, and so on. When we turn on the TV, all the news is negative. Fear, worry, and depression come from the enemy.
Matthew 6: 25 – 34 Do Not Worry (NIV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Why do we worry? Worry does not add anything to our lives. Why do we care about what brand we wear? Some of us have too many clothes and are stressed every day about what to wear. Jesus said that even King Solomon’s wardrobe can’t compare to how God dresses nature and the flowers.
Jesus told us not to worry about anything. He knows what we need, so trust that we are in good hands. He is a good Father. He said that we are more valuable than all His creation. Jesus told us to live in the present.
Hebrew 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God is not unjust—He is faithful, and He rewards those who seek Him.
Here are some of the dangers of worry:
- It changes the position of your belief.
- It makes you move out of faith and turn to your own way.
- It brings anxiety, fear, depression, and doubts.
- It steals your blessing to enjoy today.
- It destroys your effort and clarity to build the future.
- It harms your faith.
- It shows your lack of faith.
- It brings fear.
- It steals your worship.
- It is the enemy’s strategy to destroy your life.
So what is the cure? How do we stop worrying?
Matthew 6:33. Jesus told us to focus on Him and His Kingdom. Jesus is the answer. When we chase Jesus, He will take care of everything else. When you focus on Him, His provision will cover you. Know that God is faithful. Trust Him—He will never fail you.
Isaisah 41:10 (KJV)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
psalm 20:7 (KJV)
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Remember the story of King Jehoshaphat? The enemy surrounded him, but he trusted God, and God delivered him. The battle didn’t belong to the king, and the Lord of Hosts fought on his behalf. The king defeated the enemy through worship and singing.
2 Chronicle 20:22 (NIV)
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
We must learn to trust God in our lives. Surrender everything to Him, and your life will be fine. If you put your trust in the church, the bank, the hospital, or anything else, they will surely fail you. But God will never fail you. Trust Him.
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