Facing Life's Tests

Janis Horne reads the NT lesson.

Today's New Testament reading was from 1 Corinthians 10. Here's the excerpt that has given comfort to Christians over the centuries:

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Sometimes our problems seem to be overwhelming--last year various family members and friends had serious health issues--and everyone followed all the doctors' instructions in addition to praying regularly. A number of congregations also put us on their prayer lists. We were able to get through the dark times by referring to Paul's words that we could endure the most trying tests.

The science is inconclusive about whether prayer really works to heal illness directly--and not everyone got the health outcome we hoped for--but most of us ended the year in reasonably good shape and good spirits. From where we were a year ago, it's a win and I'll take it.