New Levels of Faith!

"After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned again to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations" Acts 14:21-22 (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but it seems that the tests we’re going through are getting harder and harder. Do you remember when you took tests in high school? At the time they may have seemed hard. But imagine if you had to take an elementary school test when you were in high school. You’d probably think – oh this is so simple.

So if it seems that the testing of your faith is more intense – it simply means that you’re graduating to new levels of faith! Our faith is being tested, and as we pass each “faith” test, we’re finding different means of being tested. I suppose in a few years, we’ll look back and think to ourselves – wow that was a hard test, but now it doesn’t look so difficult!

Look back on how you prepared for exams--you probably studied (hopefully), you had your parents quiz you, and you might have had a group to prepare with. I wonder what would happen with our faith tests, if we would use the same methodology for those tests? How about if we study the Scriptures? or use someone that has gone thru the tests to bounce the questions off of, or why not get a group of trusted Christians and discuss together? This might make us a little more prepared for the test and we might not feel so alone when going thru the tests.

If you’re going through a tough time right now, be encouraged because it simply means that God is graduating you to new levels of faith! The harder the tests, the greater difficulty – the greater the reward, an increased blessing awaits you! Stay focused, stay alert and remember that God is trying to stretch your faith so that you can accomplish even more for His Kingdom!