To Everything... A Season: Taking Tests

Monday, October 15, 2007

Taking Tests

When I was in school, whether it was Elementary or High School I hated tests. it really didn't matter what kind of test; I just hated them.

Entering into the grown up work force and life's reality I learned that every body has tests, even we adults. The problem with life's reality tests is that sometimes you don't know you are taking the test. There is no one who will tell you, "We are having a test tomorrow over the studied text", and you sometimes have no way of knowing what's going to be on the test.

Since my last article here at "To Everything...A Season" where I wrote of the song "I Choose", and how it had been a real encouragement to me. If you don't remember read the previous post. I do know the chorus a bit better now, and I did notice that I used the wrong word for a song chorus, and wrote "course". I knew better I just didn't catch what I had written.

The song's chorus is this way; "I choose to believe You are faithful, and my heart is in your hands; that this mystery I face today is part of a greater plan. I choose not to be discouraged when the sun will not break through. I have the choice of trusting You; so Lord, this is what I choose." It is still a source of encouragement to me.

The only thing that has changed is that I have been and I am presently being tested to how sure and true this is to my life. Sometimes I just wonder if I missed God's real calling for my life. I do believe, having studied the Scriptures for over 33 years that every Christian has a calling in their life. That doesn't mean being a pastor, missionary, or anything like that. It just means some Christians are called to be farmers, school teachers, policemen [or any form of law enforcement], soldiers, dog catchers, doctors, nurses, carpenters, bus drivers, and you could add your own occupation or vocation here.

Whatever it is God has called you to be content in doing it. And, do it as unto the Lord. I do know one thing for sure. If you believe God is calling you to a work, then, you better go to it as soon as He calls. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Think about what happened to Jonah.

I still dislike tests, but today I have a better understanding of why we have them. They strengthen our resolve to get done what we know we need to get done. They also show us things about ourselves we didn't know before. Like, how durable and faithful we really are. Then, we can give God the Son and His Father all the glory.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: Tim, testing times can be so difficult sometimes. But probably the hardest part is they are so solitary. We have to go through them alone. Oh I know we have the Lord, but the Lord is testing our resolve, our faith, our commitment, our diligence. And sometimes it is so very hard to see what the answers are to our test because we haven't studied for that part. Or at least we think we haven't.

I suppose that is why it is so very important we rely upon the Holy Spirit within us to guide us and teach us each day, huh? selahV; 10/22/2007 8:55 PM
Anonymous said...: you will pass this test.; 10/22/2007 9:03 PM
Tim A said...: SelahV,
Thanks for the encouraging words. You are and encourager.
T.A.; 10/24/2007 11:12 AM

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