Test: Pass or Fail?

A new favorite song is Flowers by Samantha Ebert. It’s about a beautiful way to walk through hard seasons. Trials, loss, broken relationships, health issues. Knowing God brings growth (flowers) out of pain adds meaning to those experiences (in the valley).

Sometimes, difficulties arise when the Lord tests our faith. In Exodus 20, we see God testing Israel’s obedience. They had already failed one test: the test of physical sustenance. He provided manna in the wilderness and gave explicit instructions for how they were to gather manna each day. Some chose to collect more than they needed. 

Now the test was one of waiting for Moses to come back down Mt. Sinai after receiving the 10 commandments on tablets, along with instructions for worship. Moses had told them earlier in Exodus:

Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you so that you will fear him and will not sin. Exodus 20:20

But because he didn’t come back for over a month, they chose another god to worship. Forty days and nights were too long to wait, so they made an idol they could see to worship. Failure once again!

I’ve failed quite a few tests myself. Times I’ve moved ahead of God, too impatient to wait for His direction. Our tests may last a long time, and we may be tempted to doubt as Israel did. God never gave up on Israel, and He doesn’t give up on us! The song Flowers reminds me that He can use even these failed tests to grow my faith and obedience. Like flowers in the valley! 

As I listened to another favorite song the day I read this passage in Exodus, I was reminded of the Goodness of God my entire life. Always, in every way, even in my failures to obey. He never lets us go. Just listen to this third song I played this same day from my church worship team, Right Here. We can trust Him, right here, right now!

Whether it’s our failed tests, pain from living in a broken world, or our fractured culture, when life is hard, Jesus walks with us, never gives up on us, and is always present! 

Banner photo by Ben Mullins on Unsplash