Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the TESTING of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
One of the deceptions that the enemy has convinced us of is that trials is the result of sin. When things are not going the way we think they should be going, we automatically think that something is wrong with or that we are sinning. We think that our circumstances is a result of a punishment for our sins.
But according to James, that is simply not true. According to James, trials are actually a test of faith. And when the LifeSpring family agreed that 2026 was about Increase Our Faith, we unknowingly signed up to not just grow in faith, but to test our growth.
In the early 2000s, our church family went through a very difficult test. The Holy Spirit fell on the young people and it caused much pain, tears, and even strained relationships. Someone looking at LifeSpring would probably have thought that the church is falling apart because of great sin. But this is not so. God allowed the trials and tests because He knew that LifeSpring could not taste the Holy Spirit and turn away from Him. He knew that the power of the Holy Spirit would be here to stay. He knew. So He allowed it.
Today, the Holy Spirit is not just invited, the Holy Spirit is at the center of all that we do. We do nothing without consulting Him and you can hear it every time we say, “Listen Well, Obey Quickly”. This is in essence saying seek the Holy Spirit for guidance before doing anything.
Our children are free to express when they see the angelic, they are free to flag in His presence, they are free to weep, and they are free to encounter and manifest the Holy Spirit at will. But this all because LifeSpring passed the test.
Alvin & Patricia, Perry & Catherine, Jerry & Dorothy, Eric & Angela: a grandparent generation that held on to the belief that the Holy Spirit was real, that the Holy Spirit is God, and that the Holy Spirit was good. Even when everything around them seemed like a disaster.
Tests are not from the devil, temptations are. Tests are from God. Tests from God are there to solidify your God-given thoughts, so that that your thoughts reach your heart. Tests are allowed, because God trusts that you are ready and are able to pass the test. Because beyond the test is a world of freedom.
Whatever you may be going through, whatever test you may be up against. The Lord is saying, “I am with you, I believe in you, you can do it”.
If you would like prayer in your test, feel free to reach out to any of the pastoral team or your LifeGroup leader. The test is yours, but family can always help you through it. Amen.