Do Not Abort the Test

Key Thought | God uses testing to strengthen our faith, strip away self-dependence, and draw us into deeper intimacy with Him.

Key Scripture | “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…” – James 1:2–8 (NKJV)

This past weekend, I repeated this statement over and over again. In my preparation throughout the week, I kept hearing God say it. Today, I want to take one devotional and dig a little deeper into what I sensed God speaking to our church body.

The testing of our faith produces stronger faith.

If you want something to strengthen, you have to test it and work it. The truth is: our faith cannot grow stronger unless it is tested. Somewhere along the way, maybe in our desire to draw people, we’ve drifted from the very truth that equips us for real life.

Scripture says, “For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Doubt can’t simply be cast out or prayed away. It has to be lived through. What do I mean? I can’t preach the doubt out of you. You have to encounter God for that to happen. When we walk through seasons of hardship or testing, those are the places where we finally give up relying on our own ability and learn to trust solely in Him.

The goal is a faith secure in Him, not in us.

When I peel the onion back on my own life, I find so many places where I trust myself and not Him. I can lean toward being a performer, and because of that, I’ve performed my way through much of my spiritual life. Faith in God is the opposite of trusting myself.

I say that as a testimony for anyone who finds themselves in the same place. Over this past year, I’ve begun to learn what it means to be truly myself in His presence. That is the beginning place of real transformation. He requires honesty, seeing ourselves clearly in the mirror. God works with the real us, not the polished version we try to present.

Testing and trials tear away the fake exterior and expose the true, authentic self. I cannot be secure in Him until the real me is anchored to Him.

Faith in Him requires relationship with Him.

If my trust is weak, it means my knowledge of Him, my intimacy, is weak as well. Strong faith requires time. There are no shortcuts, no cliff notes. It requires intentional connection with Him.

This is true of any relationship. I’ve seen this most clearly with my wife. Trust in our relationship can shift quickly when our time together gets pulled in different directions. The enemy of intimacy is busyness. I used to think it was uncontrollable, until I realized it was far more controllable than I liked to admit.

Yes, unexpected things happen and grace covers those moments. But there are also many things we should say no to. When was the last time you said no to something you wanted to do so you could say yes to time with Jesus?

You may think, “Aaron, that sounds harsh.” My response is simple: we demonstrate what we care about by where we spend our time.

Earlier this year, I finally realized I was tired—tired of doubt, insecurity, and anxiety filling my heart. I got tired enough to make a change. I sought out people who had an intimacy with Christ that I longed for and discovered what they were doing. What I found was simple: their world wasn’t perfect; problems still existed. But what was different was the intentional time they spent with Jesus. Not checking off a list—real time with Him. Time that didn’t end when the moment ended, but time that created an awareness of His presence throughout the day.

It has changed my life, and it’s still changing me.

Paul said it best from a prison cell, near the end of his life. After writing letters, planting churches, and doing incredible ministry, he penned these words:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ…” (Philippians 3:7–11)
“That I may know Him…”

My prayer in this season is simple:

I just want to know Him.

Prayer | Lord, thank You for the testing that strengthens my faith and exposes the parts of me that still depend on myself. Help me embrace the process instead of resisting it. Teach me to surrender performance, lean into relationship, and invest intentional time in Your presence. Strip away anything that keeps me from truly knowing You. Form a faith in me that is secure, not in my ability, but in Yours. Amen.

Reflection | How intentionally am I investing in intimacy with Jesus? What needs to change in my rhythms, habits, or priorities to truly “know Him”?

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