The Test of Faith

When we’re going through it we usually think we are the only ones who’ve experienced it, but we’ve all had times when for some reason God seems to have forgotten us. It’s as if He’s so far away He’s become unreachable. But we aren’t the only ones who have felt this. In Isaiah we find, “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour” (Isaiah 45:15). But in the Doctrine and Covenants we find an answer, “But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day” (D&C 38:7-8).

Even though we sometimes feel left alone, we never are. His eyes are upon us. But for some reason part of the test of life is to see what we will do if we think we have been forgotten. It is easy to worship God when everything is going well and we constantly experience His tender mercies in our lives. But what will we do if we can’t feel Him near? That is the test. Will we still worship and praise God or will we turn our backs on Him?

Job went through terrible trials. He felt this aloneness and cried out, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:8-10).

Faith is knowing that God is always near even if you can’t feel His presence. Faith is trusting in Him even if the tender mercies don’t come. Faith is worshiping and loving Him despite what you experience. To expect and always be seeking after a warm, fuzzy feeling is to worship the feeling instead of God.

To worship God, we need to trust, love, and be loyal to Him despite what we experience. That is the test of faith.