In the Bible, a refiner's fire is used as a metaphor to describe times of suffering. A less well-known metaphor is that of a "gymnasium". 1 Peter and Hebrews, as well as several other passages, picture great groups of Christians facing many trials and afflictions. The Bible acknowledges that these times of pressure are painful, but also states that these are great times of training where, under the hand of the Lord, they have the ability to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are being trained by it.

The Greek word for "trained" is 'gymnazdo' and it means to be "stripped naked and exercised. It is in the Lord's gymnasium, that of suffering and hardship, that our weaknesses and deficiencies are revealed and we receive training to be built up as a child of God.