Today I saw a salamander, which used to be believed to have mystical powers to withstand fire. I am reminded of God's promises that He will give us strength to withstand fiery trials, one verse of which is: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement"(2 Timothy 1:7). Jesus told His disciples (still applying to us), "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world".(John 16:33). Not only does God give us victory "but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5). In other words we will come out stronger; our hope is founded on the sure knowledge that God loves us and will not fail us.