Stress Test

 

I’ve ordered many stress tests over the years. I order them to see how my patient’s heart is working when it is under a physical stress. Many people have normal EKG’s at rest but abnormal changes show up during the stress test. This allows the cardiologist a chance to fix the problem before it becomes more serious or even deadly.

 

We all receive spiritual stress tests throughout our lives. They come in the form of the various trials and tribulations that we all face. Their purpose is not to do us harm but to see if we are spiritually healthy and, if not, to help us see where we need to change. We face trials because we live in a fallen world which, like us, will one day pass away. God doesn’t cause our trials, but He is able to use them for our good.

 

The Bible speaks in several places about how gold and silver are refined by fire. The refiner’s fire removes the impurities and leaves only the precious metal. Peter wrote to encourage the early Christians who were being persecuted, “For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet 1:6-7). 

 

It may be difficult but we can and should turn to God in the midst of our trials as our source of help, comfort, and healing.