When Trials Reveal What’s Truly in Our Hearts

• By candidasullivan
• April 23, 2025
• No Comments

Have you ever wondered why you have to go through trials?

As I read Deuteronomy 8 this morning, the second verse explained it beautifully. So often, our words don’t convey our actions. We say one thing and do another. When we are tested and pushed to the very end of our strength, we discover who we are and what we believe. 

It’s easy to speak of faith when we are in a peaceful state. We can proclaim our love for others when our relationships are good. And we boldly speak about our love for God when life is going well. 

The true test, however, is in the moments when it all falls apart. Do you still have faith amid fear? Can you take the next step with the Lord when you don’t know how it will all work out? Can you still love those who disappoint you and hurt you deeply? Will you stand with the Lord, even if it means standing alone or against those you love?

Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV

2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

It takes the trial to reveal what is truly in our hearts and to see if we will do what we say. Tests have a beautiful way of humbling us and exposing our deepest selves. When we feel broken, we get to see what is inside. 

I also read briefly about the time Peter denied Jesus. When Peter vowed to stand with Jesus, I’m sure he believed it. Jesus, however, predicted Peter would deny Him. When tested and the fear settled upon him, Peter denied Jesus. He got three opportunities, and he denied Jesus in all of them. When Jesus turned and looked at Peter, it broke him, and he wept. 

The word of God will break us, expose us to ourselves, and allow us to see the truth underneath all of the empty promises and false beliefs. We can’t hide from God. He knows what we will do when we are tried and tested. 

Will we keep His commandments?

The first one tells us to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love the neighbor as thyself. (You can find the exact verses in Matthew 22:36-40)

God doesn’t take our word for it. He requires us to prove our words with our actions. When we are humbled and broken, whatever is inside of us will come out, and this is our truth. 

Years ago, I told God I wanted to help people. Soon after that he sent someone for me to help. Only it wasn’t in the way that I wanted to help. I wanted to help with my words and books, but God had another way in mind. He disrupted my plans and dreams to see what I would do. My actions revealed more to God than my words. 

This morning, I’m so thankful that God took me a little deeper into the purpose of our trials. Reading His word and seeing examples of this in my life helped me so much. It painted me such a beautiful picture of the process of our trials. 

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