Alison Grove

For the most part I enjoyed going to school for learning new things. But the days in which I felt the most nervous and anxious were those days when the district scheduled standardized testing days. I never really liked those. Could I remember everything that I had learned? Do these tests really measure who I am as a person? For the purpose of the school district these tests are necessary benchmarks.

Standardized tests though are not everything. The greater test that one faces is how we respond to life. When life unfolds itself, how do you react or respond for what’s going on with you? Or how do you respond to your surroundings?

In the book of James in the New Testament, James writes, “My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy” (James 1:2, Common English Bible). That’s right, how can the difficulties of life become occasions for joy? Life and what happens in our lives becomes the testing for our faith. Believe it or not, testing produces a steadfastness within us, within you. “After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:3, Common English Bible).

During these last two years our faith has been more than tested with an ongoing global pandemic, gun violence, loss of jobs, or challenges for providing a more secure way of life. All these things have caused us to pivot our circumstances multiple times. James teaches us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Our tough times teach us about perseverance and the kind of perseverance which presents the endurance for making it through.

Gaining wisdom is one life test as a Christian that I want to be participating in because God promises to be with us during such times of trial. Even if you are not a Christian, no matter what trial or life circumstance you are facing today, trust that Jesus is holding you. Rejoice and be glad in His presence, His power, His promises. So more than having paper and pencil in my hand I’m counting on the wisdom of God for carrying me through the rough roads that lie ahead. Because he has thus far!

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Rev. Alison W. Grove, pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church, Lock Haven.