Two kinds of testimony

Endurance produces character Romans 5:4

It seems to me that there are two kinds of testimonies. There are the accounts of the times when faced with trial or difficulty God miraculously steps in and saves us from having to go through them. The diagnosis that turned out to be false. The financial need that was met with a cheque in the post. These are the testimonies we are most comfortable sharing, because we think they best display the goodness of our loving and merciful heavenly father.

But if this is the only kind testimony we know how will we reach maturity? Does a loving father always protect his sons from difficult situations? Does he not desire that they learn how to face and overcome them? To reach maturity we need to move beyond believing that God is good because he does what fits with our narrow definition of what is "good" and reach a point of conviction in the nature and character of God that he is always good even when the circumstances do not meet our expectation.

This is the second kind of testimony. The one we are less comfortable sharing. It is our confession of the goodness of God in the times where he does not save us from facing the trial. It is the maturity that comes from the cross. An understanding that God is still good even in the situations that are evil. It is the maturity that comes from walking in the footsteps of Christ. He who did not shrink from the time of trial but fixed his sights on the glory that would follow.

Endurance produces... No trial is pointless. There is a glory to follow that outweighs the afliction. This is our testimony. Not just that God has done good. But that he IS good, all the time and in every situation!

[Originally posted to Facebook 07/03/18]