We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. 1 Corinthians 10:13 TPT
I read this verse last week and it really hit me in a different way. I am slowly moving through 1 Corinthians in The Passion Translation and it is really refreshing. Most of the verses I have memorised are in NIV or NASB. And having grown up in the Church, there are certain associations I have with certain verses, and sometimes I will read a verse or passage and not really read it because I already know what it says. Or so I think. So reading it in a new version often causes me to pause and reflect, before moving on.
There have been times when I have wondered if I had finally encountered the straw that will break the camel’s back. And then I read (verses like) this and it says that God screens and filters the severity of everything including the nature and timing of the test or trial so that I can bear it. I have heard people say that God might not bring it, but it goes through him before it gets to me.
And so the question I sat with was “Does He really believe in me this much? Is He really sure I can bear this?”
You ever meet someone who believes in you so much it takes you aback? Causes you to stop and think and wonder if they are talking about another person? This is exactly how I felt God feels about us. Because we probably would not choose the severity or timing of the tests and trials we have borne if we used our measure of ourselves. The burden would be way lighter.
But then if indeed He knows we can bear it, and He allows it, then maybe we are stronger than we know.
Maybe we are not the best judge of our abilities and capabilities. And maybe, just maybe, we need to be looking to Him to get the correct measure of what we can bear. He definitely believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. And so we can actually trust Him to be faithful and to walk with us through whatever it is that comes.
This has been a source of comfort and peace for me. A source of strength and hope.
Be still my heart.
He believes in you.
He has screened and filtered this trial so that it will not break you.
He will be faithful to you.
You can trust Him.
The last part about coming out of ever trial and test victoriously has me shaking my head. What does victory look like? Maybe sometimes it is coming out high on the mountaintop. And other times it is being found on the floor, still breathing and thinking, I am still here.
Someone believes in you.