"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire" (I Peter 1:7).

Why does God oftentimes allow those who name the name of Christ to go through great trial and adversity; insomuch that the temptation arises to doubt the very presence of God?

Job was tested in such a way. He said, "Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find Him! . . . Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him" (Job 23:2-3; 8-9).

Yet in spite of all the calamitous events in Job's life, his faith stood firm, causing him to proclaim, "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). God allowed the fiery trials to refine and purify him.

Peter emphasized the same truth to the suffering Christians of the first century. He explained that the testing of their faith was to be considered more precious than gold that is put into the fire to be purified.

There is an eternal result for Christians being put into the furnace of affliction; which is, they will "be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:7).

Thus when the fiery trials come, strong faith and patience are needed. "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (James 5:11). NPS