Necessary Trials

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:6-7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Several years ago, the driver of a pickup truck lost control of his vehicle on the wet pavement and crashed into Lee Roy Book’s home in Evansville, Indiana. After the accident scene was cleared, a utility crew came to restore power to Book’s home and check for gas leaks.

While checking the home, they discovered that the flue was clogged with soot and leaves and the blockage was causing carbon monoxide fumes from the burning of natural gas to back up into the home.

Book later said he had been suffering from flu-like symptoms for about two years and noticed that whenever he went out he would start to feel better. For some reason, even though he had been a contractor before he retired, he never made the connection between his illnesses and the possible problems in his home.

The irony of it is, if that truck had not crashed into his house he may not have ever realized what was happening and the poisoning of his home’s air would have eventually killed him.

Sometimes the things that seem to unexpectedly wreck our lives are the things that God sends to save us.

truck crashing into a house