NashvilleChristian.com - God Must be Testing You (NOT!) - A Christian Article by Theresa Lode

“God must be testing you,” is something I no longer believe. I think it mischaracterizes God into some being who is orchestrating custom-made difficulty to improve your character. Rather, I believe that difficult circumstances shed light on my weaknesses and mistrust in God. And in the midst of the difficulties, he is far more interested in helping me understand the unfolding richness of his love and kindness.

This was a comment I left on Facebook the other day. I was surprised by the amount of comments it stirred up. Evidently, I’m not the only one who’s lived under the onus of a friend “encouraging” you with such words.

Right now, we are facing some challenging circumstances - A job loss, a lease ending and three children looking up at us asking, “Where are we going to live?” I can also hear the voices of accusation in my own head: When ARE you going to settle down? Sometimes you just gotta suck it up! It’s not fun.

A few things I’m learning though:

#1 - I really, really don’t believe that “God is testing you,” line. If you’ve read my stuff before you understand that in my years of deep theological studies I’ve discovered this great truth: Stuff happens. Just ask one of the thousands of people affected by the recent Nashville flood. It’s just the imperfect world we live in. Period. Get over it.

#2 - Worldly security is an illusion. In a blink of an eye, your house can be swept away, your savings robbed by thieves (we’re still waiting for our money to be refunded, btw) and your health destroyed in a nano second. (I met a woman the other day in a wheel chair. She was a delightful soul. “My life was just like yours a few years ago,” she said waving a hand from my head to my toes. “And then a farming accident happened.”)

#3 - God IS faithful and full of love and compassion for me. Learning to rest in this truth puts me in an unshakable place of peace regardless of circumstances. I’m not there yet but I’m getting glimpses and know: The best is yet to come.