Test Of Time

You, O Lord, know me; 

You have seen me,

and You have tested my heart toward You.

Jeremiah 12:3

Do you have one of those friendships that has stood the test of time?  You know the one I'm talking about, that friend that you see every couple of years because there are 3 hours between you and you both have busy lives.  Or the friend who lives 3 states away making it difficult to spend any length of time together.  I have a friend who lives just miles away, and has been for a long time, but our lives are busy, and they look very different from each other.  Although we have this test of separate lives and time between visits it is that kind of friendship that picks up where it left of all those years ago.  A best friend who knows you even when she doesn't know a lot about your currant affairs.  That special person who you can sit and talk with for hours, catching up, with the understanding of why it's been 4 years since you last spoke.  There are no hard feelings from the past 12 months, in which you hadn't even gotten one phone call.  It is just understood that you are there for each other, and if something tragic or very exciting happened she would be one of the first to know about it.  You know that even if there is time and miles between you that when needed she is there for you.

Our friendship with God is no different.  We have history with Him.  For some it dates all the way back to our childhood and earliest memories, for others it hasn't been that long.   But God is one of those friends who is always there when you need Him, even better,  He knows everything about you and more.  Similar to those petty arguments with your best friend from high school, or the time she stole your boyfriend, God tests our hearts, as well.  When we don't get the answer that we are looking for, when He takes too long satisfying our needs, or those times it feels like He is just not listening and we question whether He is really there at all.........these are tests to of our faithfulness to Him.  Similar to the time your friend offered up that rude comment or missed that lunch date and your friendship stayed strong..........God wants to see us steadfast in our commitment to Him.  He wants that same grace we offer to our friends.  

Dear friend, does your relationship with God stand the test of time?  When life is unfair, or your prayers seem to go unanswered, do you stay true to God?  God tests our faithfulness to see if we are steadfast in our loyalty to Him.  Our response to these tests reveals whether or not He can trust us with even bigger matters concerning His Kingdom.  If you are staying true to God keep it up!  And if you are currently in a time of testing allow it to strengthen you and grow closer to God gaining wisdom for the bigger picture, that which He plans to trust you with next.  Be that best friend, who stands the test of time!