Product Testing

Testing, I always hated tests in school. It seemed I could have a good grasp on the material but somehow fake myself out during the exam and miss the obvious answers. I would call that classic over thinking of the situation. That is no different than where I find myself today in our business.

We are seeing a disruption of our current business model that is testing our resolve. Some of our ‘unlimited’ services have magically grown limits over the last 3 weeks. Two vendors have come to us to explain their business model has to change in order for them to survive. One is our content delivery network, the other is our main internet service provider. Couple this with the normal silly season of drag racing, which is always stressful, and you can imagine our concerned.

I say concerned because we are not worried. There is a big difference between concern and worry. Concern defined – to relate to; be connected with; be of interest or importance to; affect. Worry defined – to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret. To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts, sounds like the enemy came us with that definition! Makes you realize why our Father tells us worry is a sin.

While I am uncertain how some of this will be resolved, I know He has our situation well in hand and it will all turnout exactly how He has it planned. Our Lord has proven faithful in all aspects of our lives and business. We know that this type of disruption always makes us stronger and better prepared for what He has next. So I ask one question of you this morning how will you handle the next disruption in your life, will it be a of concern or worry?

Blessings

Product Testing
by Os Hillman

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matthew 25:21

Testing allows one to discover how well a product is made when placed under extreme stress. Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the “choking” point occurs. In sports, we ascertain the “choking” point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure? It is under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.

In my younger days I played sports. I came to observe that we fail under pressure usually because we reach a point where our ability to focus on execution yields to concern about outcome. This worry about outcome forces us to lose our concentration. The fear of failure begins to rule our emotions and actions, which ultimately results in our failure. What we fear has come upon us. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.

Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome. He always made the right decision. He always performed the same no matter what the circumstance. He lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances. He never gave in to “situational ethics.”

As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to “test the product,” to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us. This process helps us see where we are in our maturity and determines our level of future responsibility.

Are you a product that can withstand the product test? Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come? Know that you cannot perform well unless you are continually in relationship with and obedient to the one who made you. Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.