7 WAYS GOD WILL TEST YOU BEFORE HE USES YOU

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Have you ever felt like you’re going through so much hardship and wondered, “God, why me?” Maybe you’re doing your best, staying faithful, and still facing pressure, rejection, or silence. Let me encourage you: God is not punishing you—He’s preparing you.

The journey to being used by God is not a straight line. It’s a refining process, filled with lessons, stretching, and yes—tests. Just look at the life of Joseph. Psalm 105:17-19 tells us:

“He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons, until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.”

God didn’t test Joseph to find out if he would make it—He already knew. He did not test us to know. The Lord already knows everything. He is giving the tests for Joseph’s benefit, to shape him into the man who would one day save a nation. Just like Joseph, you and I must go through a process. Let’s talk about seven ways God will test you before He truly uses you.

Before God promotes you, He asks you to serve.

Joseph was already dreaming about ruling and leading, but before that could happen, he was serving his family. In Genesis 37:12-14, Joseph obeyed his father and went to find his brothers. Even though God had shown him dreams of greatness, Joseph remained humble and obedient.

God values humility. He is a God of service Himself. The Lord Jesus himself, our perfect example, said:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
— Mark 10:45

And in Matthew 23:11-12, the Lord Jesus also said:

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

If you want God to use you in something big, start small. Serve someone else. Clean floors. Set up chairs. Pray in secret. God sees it all.

Joseph’s life changed dramatically when he was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery. One moment, he was the favored son; the next, he was a slave in a foreign land (Genesis 37:23-25).

In the same way, God often calls us to leave what’s comfortable. Why? Because comfort zones don’t build faith—stepping out does.

Think of a baby eagle. To teach it how to fly, the mother eagle needs to destroy the nest. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s the only way the eagle will learn to soar. God does the same with us.

The more weighty the calling, the more intense the preparation. Like clay in the potter’s hands, the more valuable the vessel, the more pressure it must experience in the hands of the Potter to make it a special vessel.

It really hurt being betrayed by someone close yo us. Joseph himself was sold by his own brothers (Genesis 37:28). This kind of test is deeply personal and would really hurt.

Sometimes, God allows people to walk away from your life—not to destroy you, but to set you apart. It’s in these seasons that you learn your strength comes from God alone.

When everyone else fails you, God remains faithful. King David understood this. In 1 Samuel 30:6, after being rejected and nearly stoned by his own men, this is what David did:

“David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

If you’ve been betrayed, remember: your pain isn’t wasted. It’s shaping your heart for greater things. God is drawing you closer to Himself.

Even when Joseph was a slave, God’s favor followed him. Genesis 39:2 says:

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man…”

This is powerful. Joseph wasn’t successful because of his position—he was successful because God is with him.

God never promised that we wouldn’t experience fire or flood, but He did promise this:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”
— Isaiah 43:2

Even in your darkest moments, God is carrying you. Just like in the “Footprints in the Sand” poem—you may not see Him, but He is actually carrying you.

Don’t curse the fire. It will refine you. God is in the fire. He is using the fire in our lives to reveal your endurance and to prove your faith is genuine.

One of Joseph’s biggest tests came from Potiphar’s wife, who tempted him day after day. Yet Joseph stood firm. He ran from the situation rather than sin against God (Genesis 39:7-12). Just like Joseph, we need to learn to flee temptation instead of fighting it.

This wasn’t just about sexual temptation. It was a test of integrity.

1 John 2:16 tells us:

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father…”

God will test you in private before He promotes you in public. What do you do when no one is watching? Can you say no to money, lust, or power? If you fall, God will forgive—but the test may come again until you pass it and learn the lesson.

God cannot entrust you with more if you haven’t proven you can handle less.

Joseph helped Pharaoh’s cupbearer by interpreting his dream, but the man forgot about Joseph for two whole years after he got out of prison (Genesis 40:23).

Sometimes, the hardest test is the one that feels like waiting. You did what God told you to do. You served faithfully. But you’re still not “there” yet. We must remember that God uses seasons of hiddenness to shape our character. You may feel forgotten, but you are not forsaken. You are actually hidden.

God sees your every act of obedience—even when others don’t. Preach even if only one person listens. Keep showing up. True faithfulness isn’t flashy—it’s consistency. It is being consistent in times that it’s to hard to be consistent.

When Joseph finally stood before Pharaoh, he could have used that moment to promote himself. Instead, he said:

“I cannot do it… but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
— Genesis 41:16

Later, in Genesis 41:25, Joseph says:

“God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Joseph passed the test of pride by pointing everyone to God instead of himself.

This is where many leaders today struggle. The temptation is to draw attention to yourself, your ministry, your success. But God is looking for people who will reflect all glory back to Him.

Even Satan failed this test. He wanted to be worshipped, and he fell. If you want to be used by God, never forget who gave you the platform, the voice, the opportunity and most of all, the life. It all belongs to Him.

Before God can use you publicly, He must test you privately. He will check your heart in seven powerful ways:

1. Can you serve before you lead?
2. Will you leave your comfort zone to follow Him?
3. Can you handle betrayal without becoming bitter?
4. Will you trust that He’s with you even in the fire?
5. Can you flee temptation and live with integrity?
6. Will you stay faithful when no one is watching?
7. Will you give God all the glory—not yourself?

These aren’t easy tests. But they’re necessary. Because God doesn’t just want your talent—He wants your heart. And once your heart is tested and proven, He can trust you with His purpose. If you are proven to be trusted on small things, then God will entrust to you bigger things.

Let your story, like Joseph’s, be one that glorifies God. Stay the course. Trust the process. And when your moment comes—point the world back to Him.