When God Tests the Heart

When God Tests the Heart: 
Discovering Divine Purpose Through Trials
by Pastor Eric Schroeder

In a world that constantly demands our attention and tests our patience, there's a deeper spiritual reality at work. Beyond the technical difficulties, the daily frustrations, and the mountains that seem immovable, God is orchestrating something profound in the hearts of His people.

A Nation on the Brink of Revelation

We find ourselves in a pivotal moment—a seven-day period of heightened spiritual awareness. During this time, praise becomes more than a religious exercise; it transforms into a weapon of breakthrough. The call is clear: praise in the morning, praise at noon, and praise at night. Why? Because as we lift our voices in worship, God promises to inhabit our praise and unlock what has been held back.

There's a prophetic word echoing through the spiritual atmosphere: God is removing the veil of deception that has layered itself over nations and individuals alike. Lies from past seasons have created structures that hinder divine purposes, but the finger of God is moving to touch the real issues and remove the obstacles preventing His will from manifesting.

This isn't just about national transformation—it's deeply personal. It's about positioning ourselves to contend for the future God has prepared, a future that requires us to move forward with unwavering faith and relentless praise.

The Power of Declaration in Dark Seasons

Regardless of how dire circumstances appear, we're called to speak life over our situations. This isn't positive thinking dressed in religious language; it's a biblical principle rooted in the creative power of words aligned with God's Word. We live in a season where declarations carry extraordinary weight, where speaking truth over mountains causes them to move rather than grow larger.

The tendency when facing obstacles is to rehearse the problem, to add more dirt to the mountain through negative confession. But faith operates differently. Faith looks at the mountain and declares its removal. Faith doesn't deny reality but speaks a higher reality—the reality of God's promises and His unchanging nature.

When we approach God with requests, our motives matter profoundly. James 4:2-3 reveals a sobering truth: "You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Are we seeking God's provision to expand His kingdom, or merely to satisfy our own desires? God already knows what we need—He's looking for us to partner our faith with His provision. He's watching to see if we'll be good stewards of what He's already given before entrusting us with more.

The Prayer of Jabez and Expanded Borders

Many of us echo the prayer of Jabez: "Bless me indeed and expand my territory." We long for increase, for influence, for more of God's glory manifested in our lives. These are legitimate desires that align with God's heart for His children.

But expansion requires preparation. Before God enlarges our borders, He examines our hearts. Are we faithful with current responsibilities? Are we stewarding well what we already possess? The principle is timeless: faithfulness in little leads to authority over much.

God Sees What Man Cannot

When Samuel was sent to anoint Israel's next king, he made the same mistake we often make—judging by outward appearance. Looking at Jesse's sons, Samuel saw strength, stature, and impressive physical presence. Surely these were kingly qualities.

But God's perspective differs radically from human assessment. "The Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart'" (1 Samuel 16:7).

David, the youngest son—ruddy, small, overlooked—possessed something his brothers lacked: a heart fully devoted to God. His external qualifications seemed insufficient, but his internal reality was exactly what God sought.

This principle applies directly to our lives. God isn't impressed by our résumés, our social status, or our outward accomplishments. He searches for hearts that chase after Him with abandon, hearts that walk in faith, hearts that recognize Him as He truly is.

The Purpose of Testing

Testing isn't punishment—it's preparation. Jeremiah 17:10 declares, "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds."

God's tests serve multiple purposes:

• Self-Revelation: Testing exposes what truly resides in our hearts. When pressure comes, what emerges? Frustration and anger, or grace and patience? Our responses reveal our spiritual condition more accurately than our words ever could.
• Refinement and Growth: Like gold purified by fire, we're refined through testing. The impurities rise to the surface where they can be removed, leaving us stronger and more Christ-like.
• Increased Dependence: Perhaps most importantly, testing drives us into deeper dependence on God. In seasons where self-sufficiency fails, we discover the sufficiency of His grace. We're entering such a season now—a time when dependence on God isn't optional but essential for breakthrough.
• Demonstration of Faith: Testing provides opportunity to demonstrate authentic faith. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Tests authenticate whether our faith is genuine or merely theoretical.
• Justice and Accountability: Sometimes trials result not from divine discipline but from our own choices. The "why me?" moments often require honest self-examination. When we search our hearts and discover we've contributed to our circumstances, repentance opens the door for God's intervention.

Positioning for Breakthrough

We stand at a threshold. God is calling His people into heightened awareness, into strategic praise, into declarations that shift atmospheres. The coming days hold prophetic significance—a time when truth will be exposed, when divine purposes will override human agendas, when those who position themselves in faith will see breakthrough.

This requires several commitments:

• First, unwavering praise regardless of circumstances. When technology fails, when plans unravel, when mountains seem immovable—praise anyway. Praise opens heavenly doors that circumstances cannot close.
• Second, right motives in prayer. Examine why you're asking what you're asking. Is it kingdom expansion or personal comfort? God responds to prayers aligned with His purposes.
• Third, faithful stewardship. Before asking for more, maximize what you already have. Demonstrate that you can be trusted with greater responsibility by being faithful in current assignments.
• Fourth, heart purity. Let testing reveal what needs to change internally. Don't resist the refining process—embrace it as preparation for destiny.
• Finally, radical dependence on God. Release self-sufficiency and lean fully into His strength, His wisdom, His provision. The church desperately needs this renewed dependence.

The Promise of Grace

Above all, remember this: His grace is enough. When you feel inadequate, His grace is enough. When the mountain seems too large, His grace is enough. When testing feels overwhelming, His grace is enough.

Your circumstances don't define your future—your faith does. Your current limitations don't determine your destiny—your dependence on God does. Your past failures don't disqualify you—your heart posture does.

God is looking at hearts today. He's searching for those who will trust Him completely, praise Him consistently, and position themselves for the breakthrough He's releasing. The question isn't whether He's able—it's whether we're willing to let Him search our hearts, refine our motives, and increase our dependence on Him.

The next seven days could change everything. Not because of anything magical about the number seven, but because God has spoken and His people are responding. As we praise, declare, and position ourselves in faith, watch how mountains move, veils lift, and purposes unfold.

His grace truly is enough—for you, for this moment, for every challenge you face. Step into this season with expectation. God is about to do something remarkable in hearts that are fully His.