Are You Ready To Be Tested?

Vindicate me, O Lord,for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Test me, O Lord, and try me,examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me,and I walk continually in your truth.

(Psalms 26:1-3, NIV)

David was quite a writer. As you read through his psalms, you'll find all kinds of emotion. Some show great fear, others great joy. Some with anger, and some with despair. What really strikes me about the Psalms is the "realism" in which they're written, if that's the right word.

As you read this book, David just lays his heart right out there when talking to God. He talks to God as a close friend, able to say anything, and he often does. Looking at it this way, the end of this passage takes on whole new meaning to me:

"Test me, O Lord, and try me,examine my heart and my mind."

That's a tough request to make, in my opinion. David's asking God to test him. He's asking God to stretch him, to put him into positions that will truly show where his heart and mind is. He's essentially asking not for a peaceful, quiet life, but a life of trials and temptations, just so he has a chance to show God that he's committed to following Him.

I can't speak for you, but that's the polar opposite of most of my prayers. I'm often praying to God to take the trials and temptations away. I wish for that quiet life, where I can just be comfortable and not have to step out of my comfort zone.

Problem is, that's not the life he calls us to. Being a Christ-Follower means that we will face all kinds of problems and persecution for our beliefs...but as we all know from hard experience, your true character only comes out when you're squeezed. When everything seems to be against you, people will see who you truly are...and hopefully, it will be the same person you were before.

Here's hoping I'll be bold enough to pray David's words someday soon...and be ready for the storm when it comes.