Experiencing God's Presence #269

You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.

Psalm 66:10

The psalm begins with God’s great miracles that He has done for His people. It ends with praise for the God who answers prayer. But in the middle is testing and hardship and long, painful endurance. The psalmist observes of the God of great power and deliverance and mercy, “You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. . . . We went through fire and flood” (vv. 11-12). Then He brings us to a place of abundance.

God pressed Jacob down in a wrestling match, allowed David to be driven into the wilderness, confined Joseph in an Egyptian prison for years, and let Paul suffer from some situation that kept him weak and broken. But in these seasons of stressful dangers and crushing weights, they learned of God’s faithfulness and power on their behalf. They grew to depend on Him even when circumstances were harsh, threatening, and constantly shifting. Like newly poured concrete, their faith settled and hardened over time and became impenetrable to corruption and hostile forces. They leaned into His Presence and found Him always near and always working.

Let Psalm 66 be a marker on your journey. This testimony of a season of hard endurance sandwiched between two testimonies of God’s great power and blessing is an accurate summary statement of life in Him. His Presence is a blessing, but one that comes with trials and tests. It isn’t easy. Experiencing Him is certain but not simple. He gives promises for the destination but not smooth highways for getting there. Endure patiently, press ahead, and don’t ever for a moment assume that the Christian life or a relationship with God was meant to be a bed of roses. It’s a long journey and an epic battle, and there are ample rewards for those who persevere.

Yes, Lord, the seasons of testing are hard. And painful. But purify me well. Let my faith endure. And remind me often that You are with me every step of the way.

From the book