“Tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” James 1:2-3 (MSG)

People are like tea bags—sometimes you don't know what's in them until you drop them in hot water.

In The Living Bible paraphrase, Jeremiah 17:10 says that God “searches all hearts and examines deepest motives so he can give to each person his right reward, according to his deeds.”

So, how does God inspect and test you? The Bible says, “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10 NKJV).

Pain is a measuring tool to test your character, and your reaction to it reveals a lot about you. James 1:2-3 says in The Message paraphrase, “Tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Pain exposes the real you and shows what you're really like inside. Your image and reputation are what everybody thinks you are. But your character is what you really are. And when you’re in pain, it’s hard to keep up appearances.

You can say you have integrity, but do you lower your standard when life is painful? You might say you’re committed, but do you want to throw in the towel when life is difficult? You say you’re a person of faith, but do you want to give up when pain comes your way? Your faith, commitment, integrity, and maturity can be measured by your reaction to pain.     

If you’re going through a tough time right now, it might be a test. God’s showing you what’s really going on in your heart so he can help you grow and become more like him—and learn to trust and follow him more closely.