God’s Pop Quizzes

When I was in school, my heart would sink whenever the teacher would stand in front of the class and say, “I want you to put away your textbook and pull out a sheet of paper. This is a pop quiz.”

God gives tests, too, and He rarely tells us when they are coming. You might say, “I’m so strong in the Lord. I’m becoming more and more like Jesus.”

The Lord says, “Is that so? Let’s try a little pop quiz. Let’s see how you do with a test. Let’s see how you do when things don’t go your way, when an unexpected problem arises.”

The Bible tells the story of a Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile, who had a demon-possessed daughter. She came to Jesus and begged Him to heal her daughter. But Jesus said, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel” (Matthew 15:24 NLT). Instead of being discouraged, she again pleaded with the Lord to help her.

Then Jesus said, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs” (verse 26 NLT).

She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table” (verse 27 NLT).

I think a smile must have come across the Lord’s face when He heard that. He said, “Dear woman, your faith is great. Your request is granted” (verse 28 NLT). Instead of seeing the Lord’s test as an obstacle, she saw it as a bridge and climbed over it.

God’s delays are not necessarily His denials. Just because God doesn’t say yes to you today doesn’t mean He may not say yes tomorrow or the day after or the week after. Don’t worry about it. Just leave it in His time.