From Test to Testimony
God will turn your test into a testimony
Teach you that your trials may be blessings in disguise
Your valleys He’ll be filling with the fragrance of the lily
‘Til on the mountain you can testify
When going through a trial, I’m sure the last thing on your mind is Thank You, Lord, for the testimony I will have after I come through this. But so many times, as I look back at the hard times that I never want to go through again, I can see that it is those trials that made me stronger, that drew me closer to the Lord at times when I might have walked away or begun to get cold in my walk with Him. Trials are what causes me to be more compassionate to others. And, yes, those trials have become a testimony of just how good God is.
Growing up, I was a happy child. One of our pastor’s wives called me Sunshine because she said that my smile lit up the room. When I was eight years old, my parents divorced, my mom married an abuser, and that smile left. When I look at pictures from that era, I am struck that, even though my lips were curved upward somewhat, my eyes displayed a lot of sadness.
As a teenager, I struggled. I cried a lot, I hated my stepfather, and I really didn’t like much about my life. But then my mom got genuinely saved, and our lives changed for the better.
When I think about everything that I have gone through, I am so thankful that God kept reaching out to me and that He kept me from becoming bitter. I had to work through the immense hatred that had built up through the years, and it took me a really long time to get over that, but praise the Lord, He was faithful to help me as I kept crying out to Him.
I don’t know at what point my joy returned but I can tell you that I am no longer that scared, lonely girl. God has blessed me with a family that loves me, and friends who seem to like me too. Most importantly, I have a Father who will never leave nor forsake me. When I am going through a difficult time, He wraps His arms around me and lets me know that He is here. He has a plan. I just have to trust Him. This is not always easy but, as He reminds me that He’s never let me down yet, I’m learning to trust that He never will.
I’ve had other trials as well, and some it took a long time to see even a glimmer of light but eventually God answered my prayer and restored my joy. Circumstances do not always change but my outlook does when I look to Him.
So you see? I don’t write the things I do because my life has been a bed of ease. I know that life can be hard. I know it can be discouraging to the point that you might wish to die. But I also know that this is a season. It may be a long season, but it’s just a season all the same. Don’t allow the enemy to win by getting your eyes off of the Lord. Instead, cling to Him like never before. Acknowledge that, although you don’t understand why you are going through this trial, and you don’t see what good can come of it, you will keep your eyes on Him and praise Him anyway. The more you do this, the more it will come to feel like a bad dream from which you will one day wake up and be able to thank Him for bringing you all the way through. Praise Him for turning your test into a testimony.
Thanks for writing this. I found your story very inspiring. I have followed your writings for a couple years now and continue to marvel at how God has used things you write to minister to me just when I need it the most. Gods plans are perfect. Keep doing what you are doing because God is using you for his glory!
Hi Marv, it’s great to hear from you. I really appreciate your encouragement. I always pray that God will use the things I write to encourage others, and I trust that He will do so but it’s nice to receive reassurance that God is answering my prayers. I hope you are having a blessed day.