What is the difference between Satan’s test and God’s temptation?

What is the difference between Satan’s test and God’s temptation? How do you know if the situation you are going through is coming from Satan or coming from God? 

Some people give a trite answer to this question by saying, “God tests, and Satan tempts.” They make a distinction between testing and temptation. That would be nice and neat if it were biblical. The only problem is, there is no difference in the Greek word translated as both “testing” and “tempting.” 

For example, James 1 talks about testing in verses 2–12, and then verse 13 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” In the original Greek text, James used the exact same word for tempting as he did for testing. 

So how do you know if it comes from Satan or if it comes from God? It all has to do with motivation.

You see, Satan’s motivation for testing you is to destroy your faith. God’s motivation for testing you is to strengthen your faith. That’s why James 1:3 says, “The testing of your faith produces endurance.” So if a trial in your life strengthens your reliance on God, it is a test for your good.