Grading on a Curve

(Pro 17:3 KJV)  The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

While it is true that God does not tempt us, He does test us.  Keep in mind the difference in purpose.  Temptation is to drag someone down.  The test is to measure how far you’ve gone, how much progress you’ve made.

God tests hearts.  And when He judges our heart, keep in mind that He knows that heart.  He knows what our motives are, and our priorities, and whether Jesus has set up housekeeping or not.  So when God tests us He is, in a sense, grading on a curve.  When I was teaching one of the dreams that we had was to make up individual tests for individual students.  With modern technology, such a thing might be possible, but the human element would make it very subjective and unfair.

God on the other hand knows us very well and knows exactly how to test us.

So?  Keep a providential perspective.  Keep in mind that the trials you go through, the tests you face, are designed by Almighty God, or at least allowed by Him with an awareness of our limitations.  How reassuring.