“We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).
“God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chron. 32:31).
A gentleman once asked George Müller how to have strong faith, and that mighty man of God, whose faith has for many years been a worldwide marvel, replied: “The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.” And then to this gem of spiritual truth he added, “I learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” James made the same statement when he wrote, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why? “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” To what end? “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Perfect through perfect testings.
If we, indeed, desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and, therefore, through the trial, be strengthened. Even as believers, we have the same shrinking from standing with God alone—from depending upon Him alone—from looking to Him alone, and yet this is the very position in which we ought to be, if we wish our faith to be strengthened. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith with reference to my body, my family, my service for the Lord, my business, etc., the more shall I have opportunity of seeing God’s help and deliverance, and every fresh instance, in which He helps and delivers me, will tend towards the increase of my faith.—George Müller.
It is said that Luther was qualified for eminent usefulness by three invaluable teachers: Prayer, Meditation and Temptation.
I ask:
What He would have this evil do for me?
What is its mission? What its misery?
What golden fruit lies hidden in its husk?
How shall it nurse my virtue, nerve my will,
Chasten my passions, purify my love,
And make me in some goodly sense like Him
Who bore the cross of evil while He lived,
Who hung and bled upon it when He died,
And now in glory wears the victor’s crown?
—J. G. Holland.