Does God need to Test our Faith?

Does God need to test our faith?

Does He really want to test our loyalty?

If God is omniscient and all-knowing - He already knows our capacity and limitations. 

He does not need to test - He already knows what the outcome of the test would be.

Moreover, if His love is unconditional, why would He want to test whether we deserve His grace and benevolence or not?

The ancient Indian Scriptures describe God as:

           "Sarv Lokaik Naatham"

God is the Naath - the protector of all - Not only His loved ones - or those who love Him - but all. 

Nor does He hate those who do not love Him.

So, where does this idea come from that God tests our faith?

Perhaps this notion comes from the Western thought that God created man in his own image. 

If A is like B - then B must also be like A. 

Hence, if man is the image of God, then God must be like a man too. 

We think - that since we are His image, He must be like us.

Therefore, we tend to attribute human emotions and weaknesses such as jealousy, anger, and favoritism to God.

For example, it is written in the Bible that: 

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

“You shall have no other gods before me. "

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

     (Exodus chapter 20 - verses 2, 3, 5, and 6 NIV)

Just as jealous spouses like to keep a watch on their spouses and continually want to test their loyalty - we assume that God is also like them - and He also occasionally tests the faith of His subjects by making them suffer. They believe that God showers blessings upon His favorite ones - and becomes angry and throws wrath upon those who disobey Him. 

In that case, He continually needs to test His subjects.

Perhaps this is a way of denying the responsibility of our Karma - our actions - by blaming it on a jealous and discriminative God who needs to test our loyalty and faith in Him - before giving us His full attention and love.

There is an old story of a man who invited an old man to his home for dinner. 

But later, the host kicked the old man out of his home without giving him food - because he refused to pray and thank God before eating. The man - who considered himself a sincere devotee of the Lord - was angry that his guest did not want to join him in praying and thanking God for that wonderful meal they were about to eat.

Later, he heard a voice out of nowhere - 

"You could not provide even a single meal to the old person whom you think is a nonbeliever and unfaithful 

And see - I have given him food for all his life - 

even though he has been cussing me for the past 60 years.'  

This is the difference between man and God.

God's love and benevolence are unconditional and equal to all - without any discrimination.

So, does he need or want to test our faith?

Some people may say that God gives suffering to those whom he loves - to make them stronger. 

'Whom he loves? 

First of all - Does He not love everyone equally and unconditionally? 

If he does, he should give everyone equal suffering to make them stronger. 

Secondly, do we, for any reason, intentionally inflict suffering on our beloved children? 

If we as ordinary human beings do not inflict pain and suffering on our children and loved ones, then why would an Omnipotent and loving God want to inflict pain and suffering upon His children?

The Omnipotent - Almighty, all-powerful God can make us stronger if he wants to - without giving us any suffering and tests.

Suffering and hardships in life might make some people stronger - but some people might come out broken and disheartened also. 

Surely - God would know that too. 

Some people say that God knows our capacity and gives us only the amount of suffering that we can handle. 

If God already knows our capacity - then why there is any need to test us?

The thought that God is testing our strength and patience by giving us suffering might help those who do not wish to accept the law of Karma - That whatever we experience - joy or misery is the result of the actions of our present and past lives.  

Therefore, they put everything upon God - because they do not want to take responsibility and feel guilty for their actions.

However, it might make it easier for them to go through such a time by accepting it as a test of their faith. 

But a Gyani - an enlightened person understands that since God knows everything - including the strength and capabilities of His children or subjects - He does not need to test our faith and loyalty. 

The test of loyalty is a need of humans with limited ability and knowledge 

Not of the Almighty, who is Omniscient - all-knowing. 

                            ' Rajan Sachdeva '