A Time of Testing

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
~ Daniel 11:32-35

God's children are tested by:

~ afflictions and sufferings
There is a divine purpose and divine protection amidst the fiery trials of our faith. God's ways are not our ways.

~ delayed answers to prayers
God seeks after a praying people and will answer in His time and divine Will if we faint not in seeking after Him.

~ our falls and failings
God always delivers us if we humbly turn to Him. He will always give a second chance. There is always hope in Him for He loves us with an eternal love and desires to heal and restore us back to Himself.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
~ 1 Peter 1:6-9