When Life Tests us
by: Gary Palmer
September 29, 2026
“These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience).”
Hardship often strengthens and refines faith more than in times of ease and plenty. It also often results in people with extraordinary faith and hope. So, God leaves the door open for testing His people in various ways and for various reasons.
Judges 2:21, 22 says that God did not drive out the inhabitants of Canaan so that "...through them I may test Israel." In Judges 3:1-2, the scripture is more specific about God's purpose for leaving those nations in place. It says that God did it so that the "...generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formally known it."
It wasn’t just Israel that God tested. The Bible is full of examples of how people dealt with the trials and tribulations they faced. From Joseph to the apostles, we see men and women facing enormous challenges but still trusting that God was working out something perfect, something of eternal significance.
It is through testing that our faith is validated. Joseph was tested. Psalm 105:19 says, "Until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him." Paul was tested. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 details the extent of his sufferings…beatings, stoning, and shipwrecks. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul wrote of his “thorn in the flesh.” Yet Paul was still able to say that God’s grace was sufficient and made perfect in weakness. Paul wrote, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” James 1:2-4 tells us to “…count it all joy” when our faith is tested because it produces steadfastness.
Strange as it may seem, it is spiritually more dangerous for God's people to live in uninterrupted peace and prosperity than it is for them to face turmoil and hard times. Tough times often have the effect of drawing us out of ourselves and back to God. It ultimately comes down to, “Do you trust God through it all, and when tested, will your faith hold up?”
If it were left up to us, most of us would avoid all trouble and hardship. No one wants to go through tough times, whether it is the loss of a job, the loss of our health, or the loss of a loved one. We prefer peace, but oftentimes it is a kind of peace that is based on what we want in the flesh, rather than what we need in our spirit. What we really need is the peace that Jesus promised. The peace that comes from fully understanding that we have a hope unlike the rest of the world.
God gave us these examples, not only for our instruction, but also for our encouragement to trust Him in every circumstance no matter how difficult. Trusting that God is our “…ever-present help in times of trouble,” (Psalm 46:1) gives us a peace that those outside of Christ do not have. It is a peace that the world cannot comprehend because it truly surpasses all understanding.
Prayer
Father, thank You that You are with me even in seasons of testing. When I face hardship, help me not to lose heart or question Your faithfulness. Use every trial to strengthen my faith, deepen my dependence on You, and teach me to trust You more. Give me grace to remain steadfast when I am weak, knowing that Your grace is sufficient. Help me to walk through every test with confidence that You are working all things for my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Worship: Trust In God, Elevation Worship
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