What Test Are You Taking?

Standing in line, people make polite conversation to pass the time. I remember nervously awaiting entrance into the testing center after Grad School and people would ask that question, "So what test are you taking?" If you found someone taking the same test as you, it brought comfort. "They get it! They feel my pain!"

I was reminded of that day as I read James 1:2-3 this morning.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

I began to ask myself what my faith test is in right now. Where is God allowing me to be stretched and pressed in order to grow me? As I pondered this question, I was aware of noise. Worship music in the background, the traffic outside, a bubbling toilet that needs repair, the ding on my phone announcing that it is my turn for WWF. All these things calling my attention...all pulling me away from the quiet.

Remember that story about Elijah in 1 Kings 19...the one about the voice of God? Elijah was at his wit's end and had traveled 40 days and 40 nights without food to get to the mountain of God, Mount Sinai. The Lord asked him why he was there. Elijah poured out his heart before his God.

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13

We travel great distances to conferences, listen to messages online, have stimulating discussions with amazing fellow scholars...yet what about the gentle whisper?

So what test am I taking? Yep, you guessed it...I'm taking the sound test. Time to shut out the distractions, to go the distance and to wait out the wind and persevere through the quake and to face the fire trusting in the whisper that is sure to come. God speaks. He speaks in the softest of whispers and in the gentlest of tones and in the love song of the Bridegroom.

As I pursue God with great joy, endurance will come. In Luke, it says that by standing firm you will gain life. And if my standing firm points to Jesus, my strength and my Deliverer, than that is true gain and I will have passed the test with flying colors.

So, what test are you taking?