Benefits of tests

When we're facing difficult times, we try to get out there as soon as possible. But when God tests us, he does it for a reason. While we focus on the bad circumstances, he may want to teach us a lesson. If we go through trials with a learning attitude, we can benefit greatly from them.

In Verse 10, God tests and purifies his people. They got a heavy burden to carry and were enslaved. Going through fire and blood, they really experienced hard times. But what are the results of these tests? Great blessings! See here:

1.) Worship from the heart

V.13-15 "Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings [...], I was in deep trouble."
We can worship God all the time, but I think that genuine worship from deep down is rare. After having gone through hard times and having experienced God's help your heart will spill over with adoration and reverence (see Job).

2.) Sharing your faith (passionately)


V. 16 "Come and listen, all you who fear God, 
and I will tell you what he did for me."

If you "passed God's test" and got to know Him in times of trouble, you want to pass on what he did for you. We can evangelize a lot, but having a sincere motivation is not a given. The psalmist had something to say because he experienced God, which filled him with joy.

But we'll only receive or feel these blessings when we do these things while in  trouble:

1.) Pray to God."I cried out to him for help" (V.17). When you're going through difficult times, it's crucial to keep in touch with God. This sounds simple, but asking and expecting help from God is not as easy as just giving in to self-pity, bitterness etc.

2.) Keep yourself clean and confess sin (V.18). God is merciful, but he still wants you to ask for forgiveness and confess sin. If you keep sinning after trials (stay the same), the trials were for no use. 

Created about 1 year ago