by Pastor Wendall Ward
After The Season of Testing
There are seasons when life seems to tremble beneath our feet. The familiar places no longer feel steady, and the heart knows it has walked through more than an ordinary difficulty. Perhaps you have come through a shaking, a testing, or what David called the “valley of the shadow.” You are grateful to still be standing, yet you may be asking, “Lord, what do I do now?” When the shaking has passed, God does not leave His children in the dust of what happened. With tenderness and wisdom, He begins to show us how to stand again, how to see again, and how to walk forward with renewed vision.
Three Principles to Help Us Move On
Our heavenly Father does not leave us without guidance. The Scriptures are “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” As a lamp, they help us recognize where we are standing. As a light, they guide the next step before us. Over the years, I have learned three principles that, by the help of the Holy Spirit, can steady the heart and show us how to move forward after a season of testing.
One: Clear Away Any Remaining Rubble
David understood what it meant to come before God after a difficult season. He did not pretend that nothing had happened, and he did not try to rebuild on wounded places. Instead, from the deepest part of his soul, he prayed: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalms 51:10-12 NIV).
After a season of testing, there is often residue left behind. Disappointment, fatigue, fear, grief, or confusion can linger like scattered rubble after a storm. The Lord invites us to bring those hidden places before Him. In His presence, He cleanses what is wounded, steadies what has been shaken, and restores joy where heaviness has settled. Before we can give our full attention to the next assignment, we must allow God to clear the rubble from our hearts.
Two: Consider The Cost Of Your Next Step
Jesus said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:25-35 [28-30])
Few things wear down the perseverance of faith like the quiet burden of self-ridicule. It is that inward voice of accusation that loses sight of what is true and what is still possible in God. It often grows louder when failure feels public, when others know the story, and when the heart is tempted to rehearse what went wrong more than remember the faithfulness of the Lord.
Jesus reminds us that a wise builder first sits down and counts the cost. A new beginning is a gift, but it also calls for wisdom. After testing, we should not rush forward simply because movement feels better than waiting. We pause, we pray, and we ask the Lord to help us discern what must be rebuilt, what must be released, and what must be strengthened. Anything worth doing for the Kingdom is worth doing with prayerful care, humility, and obedience.
Three: Confidently Commit To The Next Part Of Your Journey
Testing often unfolds beneath the shadow of hope and renewal. God does not allow testing to crush us or leave us in shame. He uses it to humble our hearts and deepen our trust. Then He restores our lives to a deeper dimension of faith. David understood this gracious work when he prayed, “Renew a steadfast [established, stable, secure, enduring] spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10b). In that prayer, we hear the cry of a heart that is not surrendering to regret. Instead it is reaching toward the mercy of God. Do you hear the cry of a heart that is trusting Him for fresh strength after a season of testing?
Beloved, when the testing is over, do not mistake survival for the end of the story. God has preserved you with purpose. He is still shaping what remains into something that can carry His glory. Allow Him to clear away what no longer belongs. Let Him teach you to walk wisely into what is next, and strengthen your spirit to trust Him again. The shaking may have changed you, but it has not disqualified you. In the hands of the Father, even what was shaken can become steady, fruitful, and ready for the next part of the journey.