Hi Folks! It's been a week of questions and few answers for me. I read the lesson twice while we were on vacation, but still do not understand why God tests us by fire. I wish I had been in class to discuss the topic on the 19th.

I have been tested twice--both times it was just after a return to church fellowship after years away from organized religion.

It appeared to me that God left me alone during the time I was apart, but chose to test my shaky re-discovered faith at the time I came back into the fold, so to speak.

I could not understand why God would do this to someone who was coming back to Him? It was as if He wanted me to think that coming back to church had been a big mistake. After reading this past week's lesson, I had a new take on the subject.

I now wonder if the reason I came back to the warmth of Christian fellowship at those particular times was because God was leading me back to the fold so that other Christian friends could sustain through the difficult period I would soon be entering. When I thought of it in this way, it started to make more sense to me. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for me this time!

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you on this difficult subject. -- Marthann