Nobody Likes a Test

Certain words in the English language have the ability to trigger a strong emotional response. One of those words is TEST. Walk into an eighth grade Algebra classroom and announce that there is going to be a test on Friday, and watch the various reactions. No matter how knowledgeable you are, a test creates a level of anxiety because what you’ve learned is going to be challenged. According to dictionary.com, a common definition for test is “a set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group.” Another definition, however, states that a test is “the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.” Unfortunately, Christians are all too familiar with this last definition.

“God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.” 2 Chronicles 32:31

God is greatly interested in the condition of our hearts. Often, the only way God can determine the genuineness of our heart is to allow us to go through trials or testing. It is in the moments of pressing and squeezing that our true character and the authenticity of our faith shine through. This process is used to strengthen our beliefs and build a trail of God’s faithfulness in our life.

I love David’s prayer in Psalm 129 verses 23 and 24.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

This prayer made me reflect on what comes out of my own heart when I’m tested. Anyone could have a good attitude when things are going well. What offensive ways come out of me when things are tough or when life seems unfair?

When the trials come, and I promise you they will, what does your heart look like? Is it steadfast, trusting in the promises of God? Or do fear, bitterness, impatience, and anger flow out? Our desire should be to have a pure heart, one that is sold out to God. It should be full of love overflowing, not envy, strife, jealousy, pride, worry or insecurity. If that is what comes out, then it is time to do a heart examination.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Do You Trust Me?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but one of my favorite Disney movie moments is when Aladdin extends his hand to Jasmine and asks, “Do you trust me?” In fact, this moment happens twice in the movie. The first time, the palace guards are chasing the two of them on the rooftop, and there is no way out. Aladdin offers her an unseen method of escape. The second time occurs when Aladdin offers to take Jasmine out of the palace and bring her on an extraordinary adventure by way of a magic carpet. This iconic movie moment has made a lasting impression on me. You see, when I am going through a trial in my life, or when I’m simply feeling fearful, I sometimes feel like I am being closed in on all sides, and there is no natural way out. It is in those moments when I hear the Lord whisper in my ear, “Do you trust me?” Or when God asks me to step outside my comfort zone and take a leap of faith, and I feel I’m not qualified or worthy to do what He’s asked me to do, He again whispers in my ear, “Do you trust me?”

For you see, a woman who makes God Lord of her life, and submits to Him completely, can experience peace in the midst of the most trying or fearful situations. David is a perfect example of this. He faced an unconquerable giant, was pursued by King Saul, and was placed in many other life threatening predicaments. Throughout all these trials, David remained a man of peace, one without fear. In Psalm 56 verses 3 and 4 we see why. When he experienced these trials, he declared to the Lord,

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.

It didn’t matter what David encountered; he was confident the Lord was in control. It didn’t matter that a young, unqualified boy was anointed King of Israel without any training or support from his family. He knew that – qualified or not – God would equip him to do the work he was called to do. David was steadfast, trusting in the promises of God.

Feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry are so prevalent today. And it is understandably so. The times we are are living in are downright scary. Read the cover of the newspaper or just watch a few minutes of the news. Deadly viruses, terrorist plots, financial decline. Or get a phone call from the doctor that says they need to do a biopsy because your initial test shows some suspicious findings.

What do you do? What can you do? You have two choices. You can react in fear and entertain the “what ifs” basing every decision on the worse case scenario. Or, you can have peace knowing that the living God, the creator of the universe, the omniscient, omnipresent, all-powerful one, loves you and has your life under control. Scriptures say in Jeremiah 17:7-8,

But blessed is the man, who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

So the next time you want to default to pure panic mode, listen to the still, small voice of God asking, “Do you trust me?” If your answer is yes, then God is able to take you on an adventure that makes a magic carpet ride seem boring.

Welcome to My Blog!

I had an opportunity to attend She Speaks 2014 in Concord, North Carolina this past summer. As you would imagine, there was a special anointing that fell on that event. It was awesome, overwhelming, and life giving, all at the same time. That first morning, almost 800 women and I eagerly walked into a huge banquet room filled with anticipation of what God was going to do in us and through us that weekend. As I made my way to the front of the room, to get the closest seat possible, I finally settled for a seat, secretly wishing I were just a little bit closer to the platform. But this seat would have to do.

Now some time into the conference, Lysa Terkeurst mentions that there is a scroll with a scripture verse placed at everyone’s seat. She continues that the staff at Proverbs 31 spent countless hours asking God for specific scriptures to include in these scrolls to bless the women attending. They prayed that the Holy Spirit would direct the right woman to the right scripture. See, as I was making my way through the crowded banquet room, I thought my seat was happenstance, but in fact, it was the result of the fervent prayer of some faithful women.

Well, as you would imagine, I eagerly tore the little ribbon off the scroll to find this verse:

Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.”

So as I launch my blog, I reflect on that scripture verse and realize, in perfect clarity, what God has called me to do. I am here to tell you my story. It’s time to get real!