Your Faith Will Be Tested

Devotional Reading: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4 NKJV

Your faith will be tested! This statement isn’t a negative confession; this is the Word of God. James said, “when you fall into … ” and “knowing that the testing of your faith … ” There are some trials that faith won’t prevent, but faith will help you endure with the help of patience.

The good news is that God has already made you more than a conqueror. Dogs bark, cats purr, preachers preach, and overcomers overcome! It’s what you are designed to do, so don’t be afraid when trials show up in life. You are made to overcome trials because God designed you that way. I love one Mark Hankins statement, he said, “Many fights are lost on the counterpunch.”

If you have ever watched boxing, you have seen boxers throw counterpunches. A counterpunch is when a fighter is anticipating his opponent will throw a punch at a specific time, and the boxer moves in such a way that he dodges the punch and throws his own punch at the same time. Sometimes, it’s so good that his opponent is knocked out.

Tests in life feel like a punch in the face sometimes. Problems hit you, and you think “whoa, where did that come from?” When you get hit, you can hit back! Throw your counterpunch.

Your counterpunch is SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD! When tests come, remember that you are more than a conqueror. You are not stuck in the storm, you are going through it. Throw your counterpunch by speaking the Word.

Remind yourself that you are more than a conqueror. Remind the storm that God lives in you! Remember that favor surrounds you like a shield (Psalms 5:12). You can come out of the fire without smelling like smoke, just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3:27)

Prayer and Confession
I know trials are going to come my way. When these trials come, they will test my faith and that is ok; patience is being produced. I am made to overcome every trial that comes my way because God made me an overcomer. I will fight the good fight of faith and I will win by speaking the Word of God. Favor surrounds me like a shield, and I will come out on the other side not even smelling like smoke.

Further Reading: 1Peter 5:8-11