I just had to let you know today that the test you’ve taken, the one you’re taking now or the one you’re getting ready to take is simply God’s way of giving you everything back the devil has stolen. Stop trying to figure out why your storm is lasting longer than other folks when it’s because you got more stuff to get back than they do. Yea; I know you’re tired of being tired, tired of robbing MLGW to pay rent; tired of taking ibuprofen because you can’t afford your real pain medicine; tired of eating cheap hamburger meat when you want a steak; tired of wearing the same pair of shoes & pants; tired of having to limit your drive to save gas money but just wait, will you? God isn’t punishing you by placing that storm cloud over you but He’s giving you time to clear some space for all the things He’s about to give to you. When God allowed the devil to attack Job, He gave him permission to take all that Job had; everything but his life because God was simply setting Job up to receive an overflow of blessings. See, we sometimes get this thang twisted in wanting to question God but God asks in Job 40:8-10, “Do you presume to tell me what I’m doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint? Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can? Go ahead, show your stuff. Let’s see what you’re made of, what you can do.” God has to allow you a few months off with no job in order for you to appreciate the one that He’s sending to you. He allows a few sick days in order for you to appreciate the well ones. He allows you to struggle in your finances so that you’ll appreciate saving. He allows the rain so that you’ll appreciate the sun. He allows the restless nights so that you’ll appreciate the sleep.
So, stop acting like you’re too good for a test because we all have to go through them. The only thing different from you and me is how we go through them and if you’ve studied and prepared then you won’t have a problem when it comes. If you’ve stored up praises and prayers, beforehand, they’ll carry you through the test. If you’re obedient to God’s word and repent when you’re not, He’ll protect you during the test and once the test is over, you’ll be rewarded for a job well done by receiving all that was taken from you and more. Don’t believe me, read Job 42:10 which say “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD gave him success again. The LORD gave Job twice as much as he had owned before.” So don’t think of your test as a way to knock you down but it’s a way to bring you up. Your test isn’t to take you out but it’s to take you higher. Your test isn’t to make you fail but it’s simply taking everything Satan took to begin with. So go through your test because with all the stress the world has to offer, He’s a better stress reliever and cheaper than a massage. When your body is aching with pain, He’s better than Tylenol because He doesn’t wear off. When your mind is racing and you can’t fall asleep; try the best sleep aid that won’t give you side effects like Ambien. Yes, you will have trials and tests; yes there will be days and nights you want to give up and throw in the towel, you want to let go of the rope, your legs just won’t walk any farther, you have no more cheeks to turn, your flesh won’t be as strong as it should be and days and nights where your all just isn’t enough anymore but they won’t last. This test is just a teacher teaching us that these trials are simply a temporary trouble that we have to trespass through in order for us to be thankful for and to be able to testify so that we are able to teach those who are thinking about throwing in the towel that if they tarry today, God will carry us tomorrow! The test is just a tower over your transgression, a track over that trap that was set and the ticket out of your trouble. This test is simply Taking Everything Satan Took! Don’t allow it to consume you because what the devil meant for your bad, God turns it around for your good. Just hold on!
**repost from 8/8/2012 and still holds true a year later
Lakisha, the Author 