"Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2 (NLT)

Most people hate taking test! They get anxious and nervous; they spend all their time worrying about the outcome! Still, testing is a part of life. We will all face many tests throughout our life. These test help to show us where we are in our character and relationship with God, and where we need to be. To progress to the next grade in school students have to take and pass a test...when they can pass the test they are ready for the next grade level; it would be foolish, and detrimental to the future success of the student, to put a child who is on a first grade level in a twelfth grade classroom.

God does us much the same way. Before we can go to the next level with God and receive the inheritance He has for us, we have to take and pass a test to prove we are ready. God has prepared great things for us, but if we aren't ready to receive them they will only bring harm and destruction to our lives. We often believe we are ready to receive everything God has for us, but the testing God puts us through reveals the truth. Many times our character isn't where it needs to be, nor our relationship with the Lord, to receive the fullness of our inheritance in Christ on this earth. We are all growing, and testing helps to show us the progress we are making. If you fail a test God allows you to go through, don't worry, you're not alone...and you'll get to take it again...and again if necessary. Zac Poonen, a Bible teacher and preacher in India, said, "The man who has an easy way through life, will be spiritually weak, flabby and impoverished. He won't be able to do all that God wants him to do. But the one who has gone through trials and testing successfully, will be strong and capable of doing all the will of God." Make the most of every test, and learn from them! Know that God loves you and He is faithful to see you through!