Israel were tested during their forty years in the wilderness by being allowed to hunger for a while. God never

allowed them to starve but kept them waiting before supplying their need. This was a test to see whether or not

they would turn to Him in faith for their food. But instead of believing in the One Who had so wonderfully

brought them out of the slavery of Egypt, they murmured against Him - their faith failed. They should have

known that God, having saved them, would not allow them to starve in the wilderness.

So God tests each believer. It is unlikely that He will test us by hunger in the way He did Israel, but He may

well keep us waiting, to test our faith. This could be true of our prayers. God does not always answer prayer

straight away, but may keep us waiting, to see just how strong our desire is and to test our faith in Him.

God may also test us by the circumstances through which He allows us to pass. Life is not always easy.

Sometimes we have difficulties and troubles; things happen which depress and sadden us, or somebody is

unwell and we begin to worry. Sometimes we wonder why God allows such things to happen at all - why do

good people suffer, and bad people prosper? We may even be treated unkindly because of what we believe.

In times past believers have been punished and ill-treated simply for being believers, and they have often

been wrongly accused of something, or laughed at. These things could happen to us, but especially could we be

laughed at for what we believe. Whatever may happen to us we may look upon it as a test of our faith in God.

He does not of course make people unkind to us, that is something they are responsible for, but God is

concerned how we react to such treatment. In this way He examines our faith and trust in Him.

Peter wrote to some believers who were passing through a testing time in 1 Peter 1:6,7 :

`Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (sadness) through manifold temptations (various trials):

that the trial of your faith ... might be found unto praise and honour and glory ...'.

God was allowing the faith of these believers to be tested, and He will do the same to each believer, though not

necessarily in the same way. May we trust Him always whatever may come and however unpleasant may be the

A wise and loving father will correct his children when they go wrong. He disciplines them because he

wants them to take the right path in life and be happy. So God, as our Father, may correct us. Read Hebrews

12:6 :

`Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth (disciplines) ...'.

If the Lord disciplines us who believe in Him, it shows His love to us, and it proves we are sons of God.

Read Hebrews 12:7 :

`If ye endure chastening (discipline), God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father

chasteneth not?'

God may use some of the trials which we have been considering under `God's tests', to discipline us. It may not

be pleasant at the time, but He desires only our good, and one day we will look back and thank Him for the way

He has led us. Read Hebrews 12:11 :

`Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous (saddening): nevertheless

afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby'.

The discipline of the Lord is for our good, even though at the time it may be unpleasant. The future will show

God's great wisdom in dealing in such ways with us, even though we do not understand why just now. May we

trust Him when corrected, and not speak against Him as a resentful son may do to his earthly father.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As believers in Christ, touched by the salvation of the Lord, we may pass through many trying times and

unpleasant circumstances, but we may be sure that the Lord will not forget about us. Always He is planning for

our good. He is not taken by surprise at anything that either His great enemy Satan or sinful men may do. He is

able to work all things, whether good or evil, for good. Read Romans 8:28 :