DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Tests
By Kathleen Serio
“What prayer requests do we have for this week?”
“I have a test this week”
Each week at High School Ministry as are wrapping up our time in small group this exchange occurs. Without fail one of our girls has a test or a quiz in some subject that is stressing her out. Tests stink. They cause stress, they seem unfair, they take up time, they don’t feel important, and they carry a lot of pressure. They are just unpleasant, and sadly they aren’t something that only happens in school. We all face tests each day, we face evil and temptation. This passage reminds us that God tests us, too. We are reminded that we fail those tests. We are reminded that we fail God.
There is a post I once saw online that jokes about how to sum up the Old Testament of the Bible, it pretty much went like this:
God: Don’t do the things.
People: We won’t do the things.
(later)
People: We did the things.
The pattern repeats itself over and over. We see in the Bible that over and over the Israelites turn from God, are punished, repent, and come back to God. Each and every time they mess up and God forgives them, He gives them another chance. The Israelites not only remind us, and show us how God will test His people, but more so, how He forgives them. When we cry out to God for help, He delivers. Even when we fail our tests and anger God, He is still there, He still listens to our cries, He still saves us. We have been blessed with a loving God who forgives us over and over again. God will give us a second, third, fourth, more than infinite chances. He will forgive us time and time again when we turn to Him. He will never stop granting us opportunities to do better.
PRAYER
God, thank you for the reminder of the Israelites. For the reminder that though you test us, you come to us when we cry out to you. You will always save us.
God help us to turn from evil, to pass the tests we are given, to live the way you want us to.
And God please be with us as we face the tests headed our way. Help us to turn to you for peace and support, and to know that you are always with us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KATHLEEN SERIO
I grew up at UALC and have been blessed to have many role models in this church. They encouraged me to pursue my passions including volunteering with Young Kids’ VBS, HSM, teaching Sunday School, small groups, Operation Christmas Child, mission trips, ushering, and more. It has been a joy to go from participating in ministries as a kid to becoming a leader as an adult.
Good job, Kathleen.