Every believer goes through moments that shake their peace, stretch their patience, or make them wonder if God still hears them.
One of the most powerful examples is Job — a man of deep faith and great prosperity, who faced unimaginable loss. His children, wealth, and health were stripped away in rapid succession. Yet after remaining faithful through the suffering, God restored him with double the blessings he had before.
These tests aren’t punishments; they’re invitations to grow, trust deeper, and see how real your faith truly is. Some are quiet, happening in the privacy of your heart, while others feel like full-on storms. Either way, these 11 spiritual tests are ones most Christians will face at some point in their journey.
The test of waiting when nothing seems to move
There’s nothing harder than praying for something and hearing silence. You start to wonder if maybe you’re doing something wrong or if God’s forgotten your prayer entirely.
But waiting seasons are never wasted; they’re refining ones. Take, for instance, Abraham waiting decades for a promise or Hannah weeping before her breakthrough. The real test is staying hopeful when nothing around you gives you a reason to be.
The test of trust when life feels unfair
It’s easy to trust God when things are going your way. But when tragedy hits or good people suffer, that’s when faith stops being a theory and becomes a choice.
Maybe you’ve watched someone less deserving get the promotion or faced a loss that made no sense. This test asks, “Can you still believe God is good even when life isn’t?” Real faith holds on — not because it understands, but because it refuses to let go.
The test of forgiveness when it’s the last thing you want to do
Forgiveness sounds holy until you have to actually do it. When someone breaks your trust or deeply hurts you, letting go feels impossible. But unforgiveness poisons quietly — it doesn’t just trap them, it traps you. Unforgiveness has been linked to increased stress, poorer mental health, and even physical health risks.
Jesus didn’t say forgiveness would be easy; He said it would be freeing. Sometimes the hardest prayer you’ll ever pray is, “Lord, help me forgive even if they never say sorry.”
The test of obedience when it makes no sense
Ever felt called to do something that made zero logical sense? Maybe it was walking away from a stable job, ending a relationship, or giving when you barely had enough. That’s the obedience test.
God rarely shows the full plan — He just says, “Go,” and waits to see if you’ll trust Him with the next step. It’s terrifying, but it’s where faith becomes more than a word.
The test of pride when you think you know better
Pride doesn’t always shout; sometimes it whispers, “I’ve got this.” It shows up when we stop praying because we think we can handle life on our own. Or when we secretly crave recognition instead of service.
God often humbles us not to embarrass us, but to realign our hearts. The test here is remembering that dependence on God isn’t weakness — it’s strength in disguise.
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The test of temptation when no one’s watching
This one hits everyone differently — maybe it’s lust, greed, gossip, or the quiet urge to cut corners. Temptation isn’t about the moment itself; it’s about what’s happening in your heart.
Can you walk away when no one would ever know? Even Jesus faced temptation, which means it’s not sin to struggle — it’s sin to surrender. The test is whether you’ll choose conviction over comfort.
The test of loneliness when faith feels like a solo journey
Sometimes walking with God feels like walking alone. Friends drift away, relationships change, and you start to question if isolation means you’re doing something wrong.
But solitude is often where God speaks the loudest. Elijah in the cave and Jesus in the wilderness — both found strength in silence. Loneliness tests how much of your faith depends on people instead of presence.
The test of disappointment when prayers go unanswered
You prayed hard. You believed. And it still didn’t happen. That’s a heartbreak few people talk about openly — the kind that makes you second-guess everything.
But unanswered prayers aren’t rejection; sometimes they’re redirection. The test is whether you’ll walk away or keep believing that God’s “no” might be protecting you from something worse.
The test of comparison when others seem ahead
Scrolling through social media can make anyone feel behind in life. Someone’s getting married, someone’s buying a house, someone’s announcing “God did it!” and you’re still waiting for your turn.
But comparison kills gratitude. God’s timeline for you was never meant to match someone else’s highlight reel. The test here is learning to clap for others without losing faith in your own story.
The test of faith during failure
Failure has a way of making us forget who we are — and whose we are. Maybe it’s a business that crashed, a sin you thought you’d beaten, or a dream that didn’t pan out.
But faith isn’t proven in success; it’s proven in recovery. God uses failure to rebuild character, not shame you. The real test is whether you’ll let it define you or refine you.
The test of perseverance when you’re just tired
There comes a point where you’re not angry or doubtful — just exhausted. You’ve been praying, working, believing, and it feels like you’ve got nothing left in the tank. That’s when endurance becomes holy.
Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is keep going one more day. Because that’s usually when breakthrough shows up — right after the moment you almost gave up.
Key takeaways
Every test has two possible endings: bitterness or growth. The difference is what you choose in the middle. These challenges aren’t proof that God has left you; they’re proof that He’s still working on you.
The next time you’re tested, remember this — even when your faith feels small, God’s grace is still big enough to carry you through. And one day, what you’re crying over will be the story that reminds someone else to keep the faith.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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