The best way for teams or athletes to get a true assessment of just how good they are is to compete against the top level of competition that is out there.

Winning against inferior competition certainly feels good, but a weaker opponent’s weaknesses may cover up the fact that the winning team has multiple flaws of its own.

Playing against tougher competition, conversely, will serve the purpose of exposing any weaknesses or flaws that a team or athlete may have as they seek after their goal of winning a championship.

When it comes to our own lives, if things are going well and we haven’t had any “tough matchups” lately, our faith in God can appear strong. Having enough money in the bank, good health, and no major opponents or obstacles, can make us feel good about our “record” and where we stand, and we find it “easy” to trust God.

When life is going the way we want it to, and we’re around familiar “opponents,” we might even become more vocal about our faith. Yet, what happens when we’re “on the road” and in a hostile environment where the “opponents” become greater?

How do we respond when the intensity of the “fire” increases? What happens when it’s not comfortable or convenient to be a Christian and costs us something to follow Jesus? How do we handle the tougher challenges in life when it comes to our health, finances, and relationships?

It’s one thing to believe in God on Sunday mornings or have faith in Him when our prayers are being answered, but what about when we’re being tested? What happens when we have to wait for answered prayers or when the answer is no?

As followers of Jesus, tests show how genuine and deep our faith is and whether or not we truly trust God no matter the circumstance, no matter the opponent.

1 Peter 1:6-7(NLT) tells us, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 (AMP) also says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.”

As we continue on our journey, the tests, trials, and storms of life will come, but when they do, will they reveal a strong foundation on which our life is built?

Jesus encourages us to build our lives on Him and His words as our firm foundation. He says in Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV), “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

Today, let’s acknowledge that tougher opponents and tests may be on our “upcoming schedule,” but let’s confidently know we can stand firm in victory when our faith is deeply rooted in Jesus and built on the Rock.

Reflect: What have previous tests revealed about your faith? In what ways are you preparing to handle your future tests and trials? 

A prayer to consider: Heavenly Father, I pray my faith continues to be strengthened and deepened as my life is built on the foundation of Jesus. I know my faith will always be tested, but help me stand firm by trusting in You. Through the trials, I hope that the genuineness of my faith will be revealed and You will strengthen me in my weaknesses. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.