To live the Christian life is to be tested. As day follows night and night follows day, we experience it all of our days. The deeper we go, the more testing comes upon us. So, there is nothing unique about all of this. If we expect our daily walk with Christ to be any different, we are guilty of self-deception.

Sometimes it is really severe and we wonder about its cessation. Patience becomes virtually non-existent. Strength seems to go out the window and we languish not only in pain but borderline disillusionment. They are not fun times! The sooner such episodes go on their way, we are greatly relieved.

As we attempt to survey the ages of church history, aren't we strengthened to know there are many similar experiences? It is our common lot but let us not be content to stop there. It is …