Testimony begins with TEST

Found this blog entry from 2013 today, inspired by my friend Brandie Chism Yokie, who died this past Sunday. I am going to repost it because I think with all we are going through trying to deal with her death, we have to hold onto Jesus because we may not understand why, and we know it's unfair, but we KNOW that God NEVER permits us to go through anything that isn't ultimately good for us. Period. I don't like that truth AT ALL right now, but I don't question it. Luckily, I don't have to like it to trust it. Trust HIM.

This particular message is one she and I talked about a lot in the last few months, and trust me, Brandie was one of the bravest, strongest, funniest, most honest and loyal people I have ever known. And every ounce of happiness and peace and awesomeness that she had when she died--she earned EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT.

I miss her so much.

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I am totally posting today's devo from Joyce Meyer Ministries. Love me some Joyce! And everyone needs to be reminded from time to time that adversity reveals character as much as it forms character. As my incredible friend Brandie once told me when I was freaking out over something, "Jen, you are in RECOVERY. Of course you are being TESTED! How can you possibly learn to live in recovery unless you are tested?!?" Thank God for those friends that kind of just put it to you straight right when you need it, eh? :D

She told me that day, when I called her wigging out: No one ever has a testimony without a TEST. Then today I saw this and called her, and Brandie and I laughed and laughed about how SMART she is! :D

Enjoy today's post. I am posting this exactly as I found it, except for highlighting the parts that I think are most relevant. These can be found at http://joycemeyer.org/Articles/Devotional.aspx.
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Testimony Begins with "Test"
by Joyce Meyer - posted October 16, 2013

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. —James 1:2

I'm sure you know people with amazing stories of the way God has worked in their lives. I always love to hear a great testimony, but I also know that behind every extraordinary account of someone's life lies some kind of challenge or difficulty. No one ever has a testimony without a test.

We must pass all kinds of tests as we go through our lives, and passing them is part of never giving up. It's vital for us to understand the important role that tests and trials play in our lives, because understanding them helps us endure them and actually be strengthened by them. Everything God permits us to go through will ultimately be good for us—no matter how much it hurts, how unfair it is, or how difficult it is.

When we encounter tests and trials, if we will embrace them and refuse to run from them, we will learn some lessons that will help us in the future and make us stronger.

One reason we must go through trials is to test our quality (1 Pet. 4:12). Often, we find ourselves wishing we had the faith of Sister so-and-so or Brother so-and-so. I can assure you, if they have a strong and vibrant faith, they did not develop it easily. Just as muscles are strengthened through exercise, firm faith comes from the furnace of affliction.

Sometimes people say to me, "Oh, I wish I had the kind of ministry you have, Joyce." Well, I did not get it by wishing. These people didn't see when I was feeling I couldn't hold on one more second, begging God to help me to not quit or give up. They don't know the tests and trials I've faced along the way.

No one who does anything worthwhile for God has traveled an easy road. Doing great things for God requires character, and character is developed by passing life's tests and staying faithful to Him through the trials.

Trust in Him: God has a unique plan for your life. Trust Him when you go through tests, knowing that they are strengthening and preparing you for the great things He has planned specifically for you.
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From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2012 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.