🌿Tested Before Trusted: Why God Allows the Wilderness
How Will You Know Promotion Is Coming? - Prophet TB Joshua
Before Glory Comes Testing—Even for Jesus
Key Scriptures
Matthew 3:17, Matthew 4:1, Psalma 105:19, Job 23:10, Job 13:15, Genesis 22:2, Daniel 6:10, James 1:2-3
“This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17
What a moment.
Heaven opened.
The Spirit descended.
God publicly affirmed Jesus’ identity.
And then?
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1
Affirmation was immediately followed by confrontation.
Elevation was immediately followed by examination.
We often shout for joy when we hear prophetic words of affirmation, open doors, or declarations of divine favor. But few realize that divine affirmation is usually followed by divine testing. In God’s economy, the path to trust is paved with trials.
Why does God tests us? Because what He intends to trust, He first proves.
1. Jesus: Approved, Then Led into the Wilderness
Right after Jesus’ baptism—heaven opened and God the Father audibly declared Jesus as His beloved Son, the very next verse says:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1
Imagine that—from baptism to battlefield. From glory to the grind, from the dove to the desert—this wasn’t coincidence. Jesus didn’t stumble into the wilderness; He was led there by the Spirit. The wilderness was not punishment. It was a proving ground. It was preparation. Before Jesus could publicly teach, heal, and cast out demons, He had to confront the enemy in secret.
Why the wilderness?
It was a place of testing, not tempting. God doesn’t tempt, but He allows tests to refine us.
It was not about weakness but preparation.
It proved that Jesus could not be bought by bread, tempted by pride, or bribed by power.
The test proved what Heaven already affirmed: Jesus was ready.
2. Joseph: From Dream to Dungeon
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” — Psalm 105:19 (NLT)
Joseph had a clear calling—he saw dreams of rulership, authority, and influence. But before he ever wore Pharaoh’s ring, he wore prison chains.
- In the pit, he was betrayed by his brothers.
- In Potiphar’s house, he was falsely accused.
- In prison, he was forgotten by men—but remembered by God.
Each stop tested Joseph’s:
Forgiveness (Would he harbor bitterness?)
Integrity (Would he sin in secret?)
Patience (Would he wait on God’s timing?)
By the time Joseph stood before Pharaoh, he had been tested and trusted.
3. Job: Faith Under Fire
Job was described as “blameless and upright,” yet God allowed him to be tested—not because he sinned.
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” — Job 23:10
Satan’s goal was to shake Job’s faith, but God used the test to reveal genuine devotion.
Job lost everything—children, wealth, health. But he never lost his faith-filled confession:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” — Job 13:15
His faith wasn’t tied to favor—it was rooted in relationship. Testing didn’t destroy him; it revealed him.
4. David: Anointed But Not Yet Crowned
David was anointed as king by the Prophet Samuel while still a teenager, yet he did not become King for many years. He waited years before the crown. In that waiting:
- He was chased by Saul.
- He hid in caves.
- He was falsely accused and hunted.
- He had chances to take the throne—but chose trust over haste.
His wilderness tested:
- Self-control — He refused revenge.
- Honor — He respected Saul’s anointing.
- Submission — He waited on God’s timing.
5. Abraham: Faith Beyond Feelings
Abraham was given a son in his old age, Isaac. Then came the test:
“Take your son, your only son—whom you love—and offer him…” — Genesis 22:2
Abraham obeyed without question, not knowing the outcome. God stopped the act but accepted the heart.
This proved:
- Abraham loved God more than the promise.
- His faith wasn’t circumstantial. It wasn’t tied to comfort.
- He trusted the Giver, not just the gift. He was willing to give back to God what God gave to him.
6. Daniel: Standing Alone in a Corrupt Culture
Daniel thrived in Babylon not by compromise, but by conviction. He refused to eat from the king’s table or bow to foreign Gods.
“He knelt down as usual in his upstairs room…” — Daniel 6:10
His test proved :
- Consistency in Private devotion.
- Bold obedience in the face of threats.
- Unshakeable faith and loyalty to God.
The lion’s den didn’t break him—it broadcasted his loyalty to God.
What Do These Examples Teach Us?
- God doesn’t promote without preparation.
- The greater the assignment, the greater the test.
- Testing is not rejection—it’s refinement.
Don’t Despise the Wilderness
- It may be dry—but it produces depth.
- It may be lonely—but it’s building loyalty.
- It may be painful—but it’s making you pure.
“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.” — James 1:2–3
Testing Is Not Punishment—It’s Preparation
The trial doesn’t disprove the promise; it refines it.
The wilderness is not the end—it’s a bridge to your assignment.
You’re not being crushed—you’re being qualified.
Your Test Will Become Your Testimony
Jesus didn’t skip the wilderness—He conquered it. So must we.
The devil tempts us to destroy us. But God uses the same wilderness to build and brand us for greatness.
If you are going through testing now, take heart, do not panic:
- Heaven is watching.
- Hell is trembling.
- And your breakthrough is nearer than you think.
🙏 Prayer:
“Lord, help me not to run from the wilderness but to grow in it. Refine my character. Strengthen my obedience. Make me trustworthy for the assignment ahead. May my tests become testimonies, and my trials become triumphs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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References
🌿 Tested Before Trusted: Why God Allows the Wilderness
GOSW: 🌿 Tested Before Trusted: Why God Allows the Wilderness
Published by SpiritWorshipGen – A Generation of Spiritual Worshippers