WHY DOES GOD

TEST AND TRY US?

• 1. Pressure Produces Enlargement
• "Thou hast enlarged me when I was under pressure " (Ps 4:1 rsv). This Psalm
• was written by David after the greatest failure of his life — his murderous, adulterous
• affair with Bathsheba (2Sam 11).
• Because of his sin, the Lord sent severe judgments on David. One of these was
• administered at the hands of his son Absalom, who usurped the throne and drove
David
• into exile. Having to flee for his life and suffer horrible indignities brought
"enlargement"
• to David.
• 2. Trials Prove And Humble Us
• God wants to discover whether we serve Him because we love Him or whether
• we serve Him for all the blessings He gives us. Jesus discovered that some
followed Him
• "for the loaves and fishes (that is, for what they could get from Him, not because
they
• loved Him).
• Moses described God's actions in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt:
• "Who led them through that great and terrible wilderness, where there were fiery
• serpents, and scorpions and drought, where there was no water, who brought
thee forth
• water out of the rock of flint;
• "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he
• might humble thee, and that he might test thee, to do thee good at thy latter end''
(Deut 8:15,16).
• 3. Suffering Can Increase God's Power In Us
• If you ask for God's power in your life, you must understand what is required to
• have it. David said, "He weakened my strength in the way" (Ps 102:23). When you ask
• for God's power He responds, "Do you really mean it? If you are willing to be reduced to
• weakness (total dependence on the Lord), and take the suffering, tests and trials that go
• with it, I'll give you My power."
• a. Paul's Experience. "I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how
• great God is to use such weakness for his glory.... The experiences I had [of being taken
• up to Heaven] were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up [full of pride] by
• them; so I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me,
• and prick my pride.
• "Three times I begged God to take it away. Each time he said, 'No. My grace
• [enablement] is adequate for you. My power [strength] shows up best in weak people.'
• "... Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite happy about 'the thorn,' and
• about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then.I
• am strong — the less I have, the more I depend on him"(2Gor 12:5,7-10 tib).