Why does God test us as Deuteronomy 8:2, Psalm 26:2, and other verses describe? Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God's Way to learn how trials prove your faith!



Table of contentsGod Tests Us to Prove Our FaithTrials Test Us and Prove the Genuineness of Our Faith to UsTrials Test Us and Prove the Genuineness of Our Faith to OthersTrudging through the Swamp of DespairTrials Test Us and Prove Genuineness of Our Faith to GodGod Tested IsraelGod Tested HezekiahGod Tested AbrahamQuestions



I used to be a school teacher, and now I am a pastor. Both professions involve instructing others. I do not want to sound overly simple, but good teachers provide information people do not already have. If they already knew it, they would not need the instruction! Most letters in the New Testament are instructive. There is the occasional time an epistle will say, “I want to remind you...” but primarily they were written to provide new information. This is why James 1:3 is so unique! In the ESV and NIV it says, “You know that the testing of your faith produces [patience].” James was not teaching something new. He was telling readers what they already understand about trials. They test our faith!



There are weaknesses with the English language. One weakness relates to the word “know.” For example, I use the same English word when I say, “I know my dad” as when I say, “I know of Abraham Lincoln.” Obviously, I know my dad much differently than I know President Lincoln. We add the word “of” to differentiate between the types of knowing: knowing someone versus knowing of someone.



The Greek word for “knowing of” is epistamai. It means, “To put one’s attention on, fix one’s thoughts on, be acquainted with.” This is knowledge, but with no personal interaction or relationship.



The Greek word for “knowing” personally is ginōskō, and it means, “to learn to know, get a knowledge of, feel.”22 This is intimate knowledge. Ginōskō is used in Matthew 1:25 to say, “[Joseph] did not know (ginōskō) [Mary] till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.” Ginōskō is also the word James uses in verse 3 for “knowing.” He tells his readers they know what trials do because they have experienced them before. If you have been through a trial, you also know—they test your faith.



God Tests Us to Prove Our Faith



Augustine said, “Trials come to prove us and improve us.” This quote identifies the two purposes trials accomplish. We discussed trials improving (maturing) us. Now we will discuss trials proving our faith.



Let’s begin with two other important Greek words. Peirasmos is the word for “trials,” and it means, “proving, adversity, affliction, trouble sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness.” Dokimion is the word for “testing,” and it means, “the proving; that by which something is tried or proved, a test.” The definitions are similar because trials are tests and tests are trials. Consider the use of both words in James 1:2 and 3: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (peirasmos), knowing that the testing (dokimion) of your faith produces patience.” Since the words are similar, the verses could say:



Count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing the trying of your faith.Count it all joy when you fall into various tests knowing the testing of your faith.



Dokimion only occurs one other time, in 1 Peter 1:6–7, which also contains an instance of peirasmos:



In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials (peirasmos), that the genuineness (dokimion) of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.



The similarities between James and Peter are strong:



James says, “count it all joy,” and Peter says, “greatly rejoice.”James says, “[trials] test your faith,” and, “Peter says,