Testing, Testing

Over the last week, I have been at 2 conferences during which the sound equipment failed - and new microphones had to be deployed. How embarrassing!
'Testing, Testing' is what people often say to check whether a microphone is working. But the failure of the microphones was also 'Testing, Testing', in the sense that all concerned with the events were in a situation that they didn't choose - it was testing.
The Bible makes much of the fact that we all face testing times.
Things happen which are not of our choosing, and we are left with the consequences. How we respond to testing times will show what sort of people we are.
Moses reminds the people of Israel, after their 40 years in the wilderness, of this process. 'Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.' (Deuteronomy 8.2)
While we are in the midst of the testing desert experience, it is very hard to see what we are learning. But with hindsight - and the Bible gives us that hindsight - we can see how God has been at work in and through the tough testing times. 'For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.' (Deuteronomy 8.4-5)
Maybe you are in the desert, or someone you know is in the desert. I pray that we will all learn to trust the Lord, and not lose sight of his Big and Good Plan for us.
Best wishes,
Richard