The Test of Character

“Tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” James 1:2-3 (MSG)

People are like tea bags—sometimes you don't know what's in them until you drop them in hot water.

In The Living Bible paraphrase, Jeremiah 17:10 says that God “searches all hearts and examines deepest motives so he can give to each person his right reward, according to his deeds.”

So, how does God inspect and test me? The Bible says, “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10 NKJV).

Pain is a measuring tool to test my character, and my reaction to it reveals a lot about me. James 1:2-3 says in The Message paraphrase, “Tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Pain exposes the real me and shows what I'm really like inside. My image and reputation are what everybody thinks I am. But my character is what I really am. And when I'm in pain, it’s hard to keep up appearances.

I can say that I have integrity, but do I lower my standard when life is painful? I might say I'm committed, but do I want to throw in the towel when life is difficult? I say I'm a person of faith, but do I want to give up when pain comes my way? My faith, commitment, integrity, and maturity can be measured by my reaction to pain.     

Going through a tough time right now might be a test. God’s showing me what’s really going on in my heart so he can help me grow and become more like him—and learn to trust and follow him more closely.

In summary:

James 1:2-3 reminds us that trials reveal the true state of our faith—just like hot water brings out what’s inside a tea bag, pressure and pain expose what’s really in my heart. God uses difficult seasons to test and refine me, not to harm me, but to show me where I truly stand in terms of integrity, commitment, and trust in Him. While my image is what others see, my character is who I am when everything is stripped away. Pain reveals that. And when I go through hardship, it’s often God’s way of helping me grow, mature, and become more like Him—if I'm willing to trust Him through it.

Bottom Line:

God uses pressure and pain to reveal who I really am—not to shame me, but to grow my character, deepen my faith, and make me more like Him.