"Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets such a high value upon his people's
faith that He will not protect them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.
faith that He will not protect them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.
You would never have possessed the precious faith that now supports you
if the trial of your faith had not put you through the fire.
if the trial of your faith had not put you through the fire.
You are a tree that never would have rooted as well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro
and made you take a firm hold upon the precious truths of God's gracious covenant.
and made you take a firm hold upon the precious truths of God's gracious covenant.
Worldly ease is a great enemy to faith; it loosens the joints of holy zeal and snaps the sinews of sacred courage.
The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction provides this service for believing souls.
While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk, it is useless to us;
it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known.
it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known.
Thus it is good that the Lord tests the righteous, for it causes them to grow rich toward God."
