Week 30 | TESTS

TESTS do not start or stop in school. TESTS are a part of sports and a part of life, and they come in many different forms.

I was at a basketball tournament last weekend, and I saw a 4th-grade girl get fouled with her team down by 2 with 5 seconds left. She had 3 free throws and the chance to win the game for her team, but the pressure was more than she could handle. The gym was packed, and everybody was watching. She missed all 3 free throws. That was a big TEST for such a young girl, and most people would say that she failed because she missed those shots and her team lost, but I would say that her ability to pass or fail that TEST was not decided by her making or missing those shots. I would say that her ability to pass or fail that TEST would be decided on how she bounced back the next day.

I saw her walk in the gym the next day, and she had her head up, she was smiling, and she had a bounce to her step. I thought to myself, “She passed the TEST.” She went through adversity, and she bounced back better than ever, and she modeled for everyone on her team and in the gym how to bounce back from a loss with positive energy, love, and joy.

Our TEST could be on the court and off the court. It could be shooting a game-winning free-throw. It could be how we handle criticism from our parents and our teammates. It could be how we handle how our coaches talk to us and treat us. Our TEST could be that one team that always beats us.

Every TEST is an opportunity to show your character. Your character is who you are during the good times and the bad times. Even Jesus was TESTED. He had to square off with the devil and let the devil know where He stood. In Luke 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He was TESTED by the devil. God led Jesus into the devil’s trap because he wanted to take something that looked bad, scary, and dangerous and turn it around for good. Through this story, Jesus was able to show us that though we face scary and difficult TESTS, and we can stay strong and overcome them! Our TEST can become our testimony.

James 1:12-14 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the TEST, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

TESTS always come before promotion. We have no idea what God will and wants to do with us. We will have some tough seasons where nothing seems like it is going our way, but if we can remain faithful and keep doing what is right, we will win in the end.

In life, you will have to deal with wins and losses. There will be people who don’t like you, there will be people who reject you, and who don’t see your talent. You can’t become secure and go to the next level if you don’t get TESTED and if you don't pass your TEST.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we live a life for God through the Spirit that He has given us, these are the 8 characteristics that we show. When we are being TESTED, these are the 8 characteristics that we want to live by. If you can live by the fruits of the Spirit, through the good and the bad, you can pass any test and you can keep leveling up so that the Lord can prosper you with his plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

This week:

1 - What is one test that you had to go through that has made you stronger or better?

2 - What is one fruit of the Spirit that you can focus on? Every day, think about it for 1-2 minutes in the morning, at lunch, and at night. Focus on having and showing that fruit through the good times and the bad. Focus on having peace, love, joy, or any other fruit through all of the tests that you go through the week.

For a Google Doc version, click here: Week 30 | Tests