Trial and Testing

The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. Psalm 11:5

This verse tells us that it is good to be examined, or tried, or tested by the Lord. Why so? Don't such trials usually hurt? Yes, the writer to the Hebrews says, For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:6). Chastenings hurt; so do whippings.

But our holy Father chastens and scourges His children. Our earthly fathers chastise us because they want us to "turn out good". And, our heavenly Father chastens us so that we do not inherit the lot of the wicked.

You see, the wicked receive God's wrath and spend an eternity in hell. Those whom the Lord has chosen for Himself, however, He fusses over and pores over and examines as a doctor, a painter, a coach training his pupil to be an Olympic gold medal winner.

God has great plans for us, nothing less than that we should be conformed to the image of His dear and precious Son. To this end, He examines us with His magnifying glass, so that every speck and spot and impurity should be burned out of us. He is like a great writer reading and rereading every line of script, every jot and tittle, so that everything should be perfect, just perfect.

Is this too hard for us? Sometimes. But it is because God has such good plans for us that He examines us so frequently, as a gardener examines his produce, pulling out the weeds, pinching off the rank growth, adding fertilizer, killing the insects.

Our Father tests us and puts us through many trials, so that on that day, we will stand before Him with nothing of ourselves remaining, but all Christ. His own Son was tested in the wilderness before His ministry began. He was found worthy, and His life bore great fruit.

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Father, teach me not to doubt You when you poke and pry and peel away layer after layer, stripping me down to seeming nothing. May I put all my faith and trust in Your word, which promises that those whom You chasten are Your own. May it be enough for me to rest in the hope of seeing Your Son face to face. Thank-You for refining away my dross, something which I cannot do for myself, so that on that great day, I will be someone lovely for Your Son to behold. In His name, Amen.