What is the difference between Satan tripping us up and God testing us?

Question

How can we tell the difference between satan tempting us and God testing our faith?

Answer 1

Sometimes God will permit his enemy to attempt to influence us. We can either choose to give in to what Satan offers or else go to God and seek his power so that we may prevail over another trial.

It doesn't matter who is tempting or testing you. What matters is what you do about it. If your heart is oriented toward self and temporal aims, then you are falling prey to God's enemy. If your heart is oriented toward God's will and overcoming the temptations of this world, then you are safe and walking in grace.

It is my belief that God doesn't test but allows his enemy to tempt us. Did God test his Son, or did he allow Satan to tempt him? It was the latter. Was God testing Job, or did God allow Satan to attack Job? It was the latter. It appears, from Scripture, that God allows Satan to tempt us so that God may better fortify us against the enemy.

Answer 2

God never tempts us to sin. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." (James 1:13-14) The Bible also says that Satan tempts us. So when you want to do something that you know is wrong, that is either Satan or your own flesh and not God.

Trials test our faith in God. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3)

The Bible also teaches that sometimes we experience hardship as discipline for our disobedience and that there are natural consequences to sinful behaviors as well. All of these things have the potential of strengthening or weakening our faith in God. Very often trials are accompanied by temptation--sin can sometimes look like the way out of a trial. So our faith may be tested at the same time that we experience temptation to sin; still, the temptation is not from God.

Answer 3

Great Question! Satan tries to deceive us when he knows our weaknesses and uses that to make us fall into sin or deeper into sin, GOD can use that as a test, but who knows when GOD is actually testing us, who even knows if Satan is involved when GOD tests us, Sometimes Man just wants to do what he/she wants to without the temptation/help from Satan.

Hope this helps!!!!!

Answer 4

We are tempted by our own fleshly desires. People blame too much on "Satan". Sometimes the bad things that happen to us are God testing us, sometimes they are God dealing with our sin, sometimes they are God allowing other people to sin against us (because people have free will) sometimes it's to make us stronger and sometimes we just don't know why. I keep my focus on what God is doing in the situation because don't forget, Satan can't do anything without God allowing it.

Answer 5

God allows satan to test us (ex. the book of Job). Satan cannot do it without God's permission. Any temptation, any trial, any circumstance (good or bad) is a test of faith.

Answer 6

God might permit Satan to actually tempt someone, or God may simply choose to withhold a blessing (or blessings) for a short while, in order to strengthen one's faith or increase one's own personal merit.

Answer 7

Satan HATES you - he always wanted be like God. You were made in the image of God and so you remind him of his downfall. What he sends your way, he intends for your destruction.
God LOVES you. You are His poema - His handywork - His craftsmanship. His tests are for your good - to make you stronger and more resilient- and His glory. You never fail His tests - but He will give you a re-test!
Bread dough is not particularly useful. Only when it has been baked in a hot oven can it be life-giving to those around it.

Answer 8

There is a LARGE difference in purpose of the temptation and testing. God purpose in part is to offer you 'living water' to enjoy forever as you find that God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in him... Satan's purpose (you always knew never trust a snake right?) is trying to get you to pass God's offer by and diss God and convince yourself 'gutter water' is great!!! mmm mmm mmm !!!! and he offers the 'gutter water' to people all the time... no clue what they passed over.

James says God does NOT tempt... a test is something designed to prove something has the real stuff or to highlight weakesses to fix ... to get gold refined in the fire you gotta get the dross out ... God hammers you into something for His glory, more than a master diamond cutter's work and the end is for His glory and your good... God will test you to let you see what is in your own heart to drive you to your knees to lean on Him for help and to stretch you to enjoy his glory and to wean you away from the world and lesser things

Satan is only interested in hurting God with you as hostage to trip up to the extent he can... he will razzale dazzle you with tinsel and fluff seeing if you will fall for it and sell real things of eternal value for the stuff of fools gold to get a last jab at God before Satan takes a dive into the lake of fire, like that Golum guy who grasped the ring as he sank in the lava... it ain't worth it.. Gollum the grin on your face is a little premature as you and the ring sink into the lava... poor Smeegle...but a fitting ending to the Lord of the Rings

Answer 9

God allows us to be in certain circumstances which tempt us, but he does not tempt us or try to trip us up himself. At times, when we have withdrawn ourselves from God, it just happens that our faith is tested. By giving us free agency God is testing us.

Answer 10

Motive. Satan does his thing to break your faith and belief in the creator. On the other hand, God does his thing to find out how well you have spiritually evolved.