Embracing God’s Tests

Jesus gives good gifts to all God’s children but He wants to ensure they will take advantage of them so He will “test” us all before giving them.

Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Dt 8:2-3

Having Big Aspirations

In our journey towards fulfilling our dreams, we often encounter unexpected twists and turns. We know that God bestows good gifts upon His children, but He also wants to ensure that we are prepared to make the most of them. He puts us to the test, to reveal what lies within our hearts and to determine whether we will remain steadfast in following His commandments. This process of testing and humbling is beautifully illustrated in the biblical example of the Israelites’ forty-year journey through the wilderness:

Likewise, in your career, you may harbor aspirations, both big and small. Those grand dreams may seem elusive, and you find yourself earnestly praying to Jesus for their fulfillment. Yet, at times, it appears that your pleas go unanswered. Perhaps you continually petition Jesus for these desires. While there is nothing wrong with seeking His intervention in obtaining promotions, career advancements, or even a complete shift in your professional path, it seems like progress is stagnant or that you are overlooked when opportunities arise. So, what could be the reason behind this?

Humble Yourself In The Opportunities

When it comes to seeking positive change in your life and career, it is essential to understand that Jesus does not readily bestow these graces without careful consideration. Depending on the magnitude of your aspirations, the journey towards them may be lengthy. Jesus desires to grant you the blessings and opportunities that this world has to offer, but He also wants to discern your level of commitment. He wants to know, “How badly do you want this?” You may argue that you frequently pray to Jesus, believing that it should be sufficient for Him to recognize your earnest desires. Yet, Moses reminds us in the book of Deuteronomy that God led His people through forty years in the wilderness, humbling them and testing their commitment to His commandments. This serves as a crucial point to consider within your career: If you desire to advance, Jesus may not readily provide the promotion until you have, in a sense, proven yourself and demonstrated your readiness to receive it.

What If?

Now, let’s explore a hypothetical situation. Imagine a person burdened by financial debt, struggling to make ends meet with a modest income. This individual turns to Jesus, praying for a lottery win, and astonishingly, their prayer is answered a few days later. At first glance, one might perceive this as incredible luck for the person involved. However, statistics show that approximately 70% of lottery winners eventually lose all their winnings, with some even sinking further into debt than before. It’s a startling realization! But what went wrong in this scenario? While I cannot speak for all lottery winners, in this specific example, it becomes evident that the person lacked the financial discipline necessary to handle such a significant windfall. They failed to establish a budget and live within their means, thus compounding their mistakes multiple times over and spiraling deeper into debt.

Trust In Him

By incorporating these biblical examples and reflecting on the importance of patience, perseverance, and preparation, we can better navigate the journey towards fulfilling our dreams. It is through the tests and challenges that God molds us, making us ready to receive His blessings. So, as you strive for advancement in your career or any other pursuit, remember that the path

Prayer Topics With Jesus

During your next prayer session with Jesus here are some discussion topics that might help.

• Jesus, how am I progressing with the graces that I am seeking? Are you seeing the improvement you are looking for? Can you motivate my heart if you need to see more?
• Jesus, when things are not coming the way I desire teach me to be patient, but know that I must continue to grow to show myself I can handle the graces I seek.