Will That Be on The Test?

I don’t consider myself a good “test taker”. I have had my share of tests because I really do love education. I recently earned my GRI (Graduate of REALTOR Institute) and there were multiple tests during the classes required. When I was teaching as an adjunct instructor several years ago, I used to try to take the stress out of testing. I understand the role of tests in academia and the world of education. I think that they are “over weighted”.  A test is really an assessment. I think of a test being a set of questions that ask hard questions (sometimes tricky and deceitful) about a certain subject matter that I’ve been studying. When I tested for my real estate license, I felt like it was a hard and somewhat tricky test. The Broker Exam took that to a whole new level. I’m not a fan of tests, but I feel like that I’m really tested every day. The tests that I take daily are very “untraditional” and random. I’m asked questions daily. I’m in situations daily where it feels like a test of my moral compass.

I came across a simple little verse in Proverbs that carries a big spiritual punch. Check this out….

³ Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3 NLT)

I talk with the Lord often throughout the day and He is with me.

I heard a great quote from Miles McPherson a few weeks ago that reminded me that the teacher is silent, but present during the test. I feel like some of the tests I’ve been through in my journey have been harrowing and very hard. I remember calling out to the Lord because I felt all alone during the test. I wasn’t alone – the Teacher was simply silent.

I also feel like we are raising a generation of “test takers” instead of learners. If education continues to put so much weight on testing, then learning starts to fail. I believe that so many of our schools have been put under such pressure to have students perform on state testing because the state and federal funding for that school is measured by the standardized testing. There are a lot of ways to assess learning rather than simple testing. In fact, I think that the more unconventional measures of testing would be a more accurate assessment.

The tests that I’m taking today are not standard. The Lord has tailored the test to me. He’s not testing my behavior, but my behavior reveals what’s going on in my heart where He is testing. The picture that Solomon paints of gold and silver being tested by fire reminded me that the tests regarding my heart are not always easy or comfortable. I decided a long time ago to trust the Lord – my Teacher with my whole heart. I don’t intend to hold anything back. He will be with me before, during and after the test.  He will help me grow in the areas of failure. He will help me flourish where my faith is strong. He will keep me grounded and humble before Him. I don’t stress over the tests that are thrown at my heart, I lean into them and look to Him to help me navigate it. Tests can be teachable.

Pressing On!

Dwayne