Before God Uses You, He Will Give You These 7 Sacred Tests of Fire
by Nikki Walton of CurlyNikki.com
You’ve been asking God to use you for His Glory. But the oil will never flow publicly if you’re not privately pouring… praying in private. Your public works and rewards start in your room, in your prayer closet, in your little upper room, on your knees, with tears, arms raised, sometimes face on the floor, sometimes singing, sometimes groaning… all the time praising.
He puts you through seasons of quiet and seasons of fire, He refines you before He puts you on display. Not to harm or break you, but to build you so that you can handle the power of the calling that He placed on your life. You can’t afford to be distracted. You can’t afford to be brought down. You can’t afford to not pray ceaselessly. You can’t afford to not be all in, in the Word. Keep your Bible close at hand, knowing your blessing is at hand, no matter how it looks right now. And because I can feel you, I know it looks bleak. But this is always how it looks before it all changes.
These tests (many of which you’ve already passed through), won’t always come with warning labels. They’ll feel like betrayal. Like abandonment. Like delay. Like unfairness. You’ll be ready to fight-fight. But Grace will come and right in the midst of the rising anger, you’ll feel Jesus’ Joy rising in you and you’ll smile. You’ll see Him flash in their eyes… even though they’re unaware you know Who’s here. And there’s an inner softening even though outwardly you may still be flipping tables… consciously, respectfully lol.
If you find yourself in the midst of a Holy Trial, face it. Don’t run. You’re being trusted. Proven. Prepared. This is the gym for the Chosen ones. And I promise this is your last rep.
1. The Test of Silence
You’ll ask. You’ll cry. You’ll kneel. You’ll worship. And it will still feel like Heaven is quiet. Like your prayers are bouncing back. Like nothing is happening. But something is happening IN YOU.
In the silence, He strips you of every idol, every backup plan, every idea of who you thought you had to be. He removes the noise so that only His Voice remains. And when it finally speaks back, you’ll know it wasn’t your imagination. It was Him. It’ll be sharp. Quick. So clear. You’ll know it couldn’t have been from you. There’s a story from St. Therese’s diary about a nun in the convent that she didn’t like that much- she was unpleasant to be around. She actually avoided her.
But one day Jesus gave her a thought that she knew wasn’t hers. The thought was, “Be kind to her. Smile at her. Serve her.” She never would’ve thought that on her own. It wasn’t natural. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t her personality. It was Him. And the unpleasant nun became pleasant 😉 Loving unlovable things makes them lovable.
2. The Test of Delay
You’ll have the vision, but not the timing. The calling, but not the connections. The promise, but not the proof. And it will suck. It hurts. It’s heavy and confusing and you’ll think you’re delusional. But you are being stretched. Your Faith. Your capacity. Your heart. To hold more of Him.
3. The Test of Obedience When It Doesn’t Make Sense
He’ll tell you to go when it looks like nothing’s ready. He’ll tell you to stay when every door seems open.
He’ll nudge you to leave behind what’s familiar, to walk into places you never thought you’d dare stand. To sit down in those places and take up space, fill up the space with Him. With Joy. Confidently.
And you’ll still question it. You’ll second-guess. But if you move anyway, even with shaky legs and a trembling voice, He’ll show you why He said what He said. After you say yes. After you show up. This is important. YOU MUST MOVE.
4. The Test of Hiddenness
You’ll wonder why you’re invisible. Why they skipped you. Why nobody’s seeing what you carry. But this is where He does His most Holy Work- in secret. Because being used by God isn’t about being seen by people. It’s about being known by Him. He hides His treasures. And He hides Himself in His Treasures. And when it’s time, It’s all revealed in Glory. But not a second before!
5. The Test of Love
He’ll give you someone you don’t want to forgive. Someone who reminds you of who you used to be. Someone who misunderstands you, mistreats you, mislabels you, on purpose. And still, He’ll whisper: “Love them.” “See Me, even (t)here…”
This test is not about them. It’s about whether you can carry His heart without letting offense become your god. Because the anointing flows through love, and bitterness blocks the oil. Taking things personally blocks your blessing. If someone doesn’t want to work with you, or fails to respect you or see you, trust that THEY CAN’T. He made it so they can’t. So you’ll stop looking at them and look at Him. LOOK AT HIM. LOOK TO HIM. No one can save you but Him. LOOK TO HIM.
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2
6. The Test of Lack
Just when you say yes, it might look like everything gets worse. Money dries up. Opportunities disappear. Relationships shift. And you’ll wonder if obedience caused the loss.
But this test is a recalibration. He’s removing the false supply chains, so you can remember that He is Source. Not the job. Not the platform. Not the people. When He uses you, it has to be clear that it was Him. Only Him. And you’ll never fear lack again. You’ll never lack again.
7. The Test of Trust
You’ll be asked to walk on water without knowing how to swim. A meeting will be called before you even know what to prepare. But He will give you the words. He will give you the right things to think, do, and say, when the time comes. And He will place you in situations that cause you to see this face-to-face until you KNOW, once and for all.
If you’re being tested, it means you’re being trusted. If you feel like everything is being stripped, it means everything you’ve been praying for is finally being added. You’ve found the Kingdom within and all the asking, seeking, and knocking worked. You also see that you were doing it from the inside!
Welcome Home.
SIT WITH US EACH MORNING ON SILENT RETREAT
