It’s Only A Test
“Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:3-4
In 1963, the United States government initiated a new system which was designed to give the President an expeditious way to communicate with the American public in the event of war, the threat of war, or a serious national crisis. There would be a sudden interruption of your viewing the normal television programming, the screen would go off, a horn or siren would sound, and then an announcement would be heard and scroll across the bottom of the screen.
The announcement would say something like, “This is a test. For the next sixty seconds, the station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.” Once the interlude was finished, the announcer would clearly repeat, “This is only a test.” This was a method the government used to keep the American public safe and informed about matters of real national security. It was considered a good way to “ready us” and to “prepare us” for something that had happened or could happen.
Their goal was not to frighten us or to make us worry. It was to make sure the public was ready in the event of a crisis, and the means of preparing us was to conduct a test! While we may not prefer it, God does the same thing. God tests us not to destroy us or to discourage us, but to develop us in our journey with Him.
God has a way of interrupting our regular routine in life with a challenge designed to determine the integrity of our walk and the strength of our love for Him. The test is designed to determine if we are as serious as we say we are. Often, just like the TV programming, we do not know when this test is going to come, and therefore we must stay ready. This means being consistent and strong in our faith.
If God sent a test right now, would you pass? Are you spiritually ready for the potential of adversity or a trial in your life? If God came in and interrupted your life, would you graciously embrace it and turn to Him? You never know when it will come, but it is best to be ready so that when it does, you know exactly who to turn towards!
In 1963, the United States government initiated a new system which was designed to give the President an expeditious way to communicate with the American public in the event of war, the threat of war, or a serious national crisis. There would be a sudden interruption of your viewing the normal television programming, the screen would go off, a horn or siren would sound, and then an announcement would be heard and scroll across the bottom of the screen.
The announcement would say something like, “This is a test. For the next sixty seconds, the station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.” Once the interlude was finished, the announcer would clearly repeat, “This is only a test.” This was a method the government used to keep the American public safe and informed about matters of real national security. It was considered a good way to “ready us” and to “prepare us” for something that had happened or could happen.
Their goal was not to frighten us or to make us worry. It was to make sure the public was ready in the event of a crisis, and the means of preparing us was to conduct a test! While we may not prefer it, God does the same thing. God tests us not to destroy us or to discourage us, but to develop us in our journey with Him.
God has a way of interrupting our regular routine in life with a challenge designed to determine the integrity of our walk and the strength of our love for Him. The test is designed to determine if we are as serious as we say we are. Often, just like the TV programming, we do not know when this test is going to come, and therefore we must stay ready. This means being consistent and strong in our faith.
If God sent a test right now, would you pass? Are you spiritually ready for the potential of adversity or a trial in your life? If God came in and interrupted your life, would you graciously embrace it and turn to Him? You never know when it will come, but it is best to be ready so that when it does, you know exactly who to turn towards!
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When God Feels Silent but is Still at WorkHow to Rebound After a Crushing LetdownWhen Your World Falls Apart After You Did Everything RightGod Is Still Building Roads in the DesertThe Chapter That Comes After TraumaWhen Hope Feels GoneWhen Your Words Start Working Against YouGod’s Resume Is Bigger Than Your SituationWaiting on God is Not Doing NothingBefore Circumstances ChangeGetting In Your Bag When Life Feels UnfairWinning With a Bad HandOverlooked, Insulted, and Still ChosenPrepared in the Field Before the Giant AppearsYou Were Trained for This MomentTaking Off Armor That Does Not FitFormed in the Field, Not on the StageWhen the Battle Is Not Actually YoursWhen You Feel the Urge to Go Through God’s PhoneFaith After Disappointment Still CountsKeep Showing Up Even When You Are ConfusedLocked Doors Do Not Stop JesusWhen You Need an Encounter for YourselfDoubt as a DoorwaySaying What Hurts When God Is in the RoomWhere Faith and Fear CollideShutdown Does Not Mean FinishedWhen Opposition Shows Up Mid-ProgressBuilding Without Responding to the MockeryA Mind to Work in the Middle of WearinessThe Wall Rose Because the People Did Not Quit
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
No Comments