January 21, 2025

Passing the Test of Your Faith

In yesterday’s devotional, we saw how God desires for us to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing; but the road to that is the testing of our faith.

The natural question is, “What does it take to succeed when the test comes?” There are two cooperating forces which must be at work. James 1:4–5 shows us what those two forces are,

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The first force is patience. James’ point is, “Don’t quit before the answer comes. Let patience have full play, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Hebrews 10:36, says it this way,

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

You and I may actually have done the will of God, done what God wants us to do, but if we don’t exercise endurance, we won’t receive the promise. That is the importance of patience.

The second cooperating force at work to pass the test of your faith is wisdom. If you lack wisdom, if you can’t see the forest for the trees in the midst of your trial, you can ask God and He will give it…liberally and without reproach.

God delights when you ask for wisdom. And He won’t belittle you or find fault with you for asking.

So if you find your faith on trial, if you are being sorely tested, ask God for wisdom and patiently endure. Without these two forces, you will never know victory!

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