Morning By Morning #317

The trial of your faith…

1 Peter 1:7 KJV

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Untested faith may be real faith, but no doubt it will be “little faith” (Matt. 6:30) and will likely remain stunted in its growth as long as it has no trials. Faith never prospers better than when everything comes against it, for storms are its trainers and lightning its illuminator. When calm reigns on the sea, you can spread your ship’s sails if you wish, but she will not move toward the desired harbor, for when the ocean slumbers the ship’s keel sleeps as well. Yet when winds begin to howl and waves begin to rise, the ship may rock from side to side, her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sails, but it is only then she makes great headway toward her desired haven.

No flowers are adorned with a more lovely shade of blue than those growing at the very foot of a frozen glacier, no stars shine more brightly than those glistening in a cold polar sky, no water tastes as sweet as that springing up from desert sand, and no faith is as precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity.

Testing is a learning experience. You would never have known or believed your own weakness if you had never been compelled to pass through rivers, and you would never have known God’s strength if you had never been supported amid their raging torrents. Faith solidifies through tribulations and grows in assurance and intensity the more it is exercised. Faith is precious and its trial is precious too.

This truth, however, should not discourage those of you who are young in your faith. You will have plenty of trials in your life without seeking them, for a full portion will be measured out to you in due time. Meanwhile, although you cannot yet claim the results of a long Christian experience, you can still thank God for what grace you have and can praise Him for whatever level of holy confidence you have attained thus far. If you will walk according to this advice, you will experience more and more of the blessing of God until you have “a faith that can move mountains” (1 Cor. 13:2) and conquer any impossibility.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

No one begs the Lord for increased adversity, yet a mature believer understands adversity is actually a gift of God’s grace and love designed to strengthen His child. Isaiah says, “The Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction” (Isa. 30:20), and Paul says, “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ…to suffer for him” (Phil. 1:29). Thus, adversity, affliction, and suffering are gifts, but gifts that fulfill the purposes of the Giver.

The Lord scattered the people of Israel due to their sin, and in His love made them “pass through the sea of trouble,” but His purpose was soon revealed: “‘I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk,’ declares the LORD” (Zech. 10:11 – 12).

Therefore, new believer, “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2 – 4).