We all go through trials, tribulations, and testing periods. They may only last for a day, a week, a month, or maybe even a year. No one likes to be inconvenienced with a test, but the reality is that if you are a living human being, you will be tested. So get ready for it. But can you do anything to ensure that you are not prolonging the testing period? It would be a shame to know that you could have possibly received less of a beating.

One thing you can do is understand that when you are in a situation, God already has a way for you to escape, and He will lead you towards the victory. But He won’t drag you along. You have to press and want the victory, and your actions will have to speak louder than your Hallelujahs. Here is a natural illustration: if you want to go from Dallas, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas, you have to go westbound. If you go eastbound from Dallas, you’re going the wrong way. You can turn around and go west towards Fort Worth, but now your estimated time of arrival is going to be longer than originally anticipated. Do you understand that? This is how we prolong the suffering: we make the wrong choices during the test, and we have to U-turn, find the right road and continue travelling.

That's how our life is when we go through trials, tribulations and testing periods. When we do the wrong things in the midst of the trials, we get lost and/or frustrated. When this happens we tend to get out-of-character and we make mistakes. This is how a three-day trial can become a two-month nightmare. Keep your composure, and stay poised during the test; it sounds easier when you’re just talking about it, but you can do it. The Lord said He would lead you into all truth, and that He wouldn’t leave you nor forsake you; so rest in that promise.

Just remember this, when you run into trouble, just believe and know in your heart that God has step one in the victory process coming soon. Don’t rush it; don’t be too anxious, because it’s coming. When it comes, either the Lord will have already given you the wisdom to act or He will give it to you when you get to step one; either way, remain calm, and don’t be defensive and get scared if you make a mistake. You also have to remember that you are learning, too. How many babies have fallen when they first learned to walk? All of them; so don’t worry. If you fall, get up. God will dust you off and off you go again. Just pick up where you left off, and move forward in Jesus’ name.

Now you have a decision to make, and you have to either make the right decision or the wrong decision. Then that decision (right or wrong) will lead you to another decision, and you will have to choose the right decision or the wrong decision again. This process will continue until you reach the goal. Every time you choose the right decision, you move closer to your victory. If you choose the right decision and then the wrong decision, you have just delayed your victory. Again, you can get back on the right course, but making the wrong decision will delay your arrival time to your victory. That’s why you should be walking in the Spirit, so that you don’t make a decision in the flesh.

In the midst of your trials, tribulations, and testing, don't give up, don't get frustrated with yourself, and don't even get mad at the devil. He's just doing his job. His job is to be the obstacle that's standing between you and your victory. He’s showing you where your victory is. Is the devil messing with your unsaved child? The devil is telling you that your child’s salvation is nigh, but the devil wants to take him/her out before he/she accepts Christ. So what do you do? You declare, “No weapon that is formed against your children shall prosper.” You need to decree, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” By faith, your declarations of faith are putting God in remembrance of His Word and you are moving closer to your spiritual victory. Remember, the physical realm is a manifestation of the spiritual realm. Don’t worry about what you see, just be steadfast and unmovable in the Word of the Lord. The enemy knows what you are doing. But do you realize that every time you stand on His Word and speak from a heart of faith that your victory is that much closer to you? The devil is doing his job. If he weren’t testing you and your faith, then all how would you know you that you are winning and overcoming with your faith? You can’t beat the devil up with your fists; you have to defeat him with your faith. So enforce your victory and enforce his defeat in Jesus’ name!