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Gold bullions from the safe of the National Bank of Poland
“…the trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..” 1 Peter 1:7
Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves not to its harbour; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength had you not been supported amid the water floods. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.
Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will be measured out to you in due season. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92)
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It’s rare that I put up two of Mr. Spurgeon’s works back to back. Only, when I read this yesterday, I felt it speaking to the church today. No one knows exactly what lies ahead. After this last U.S. election, there are some very gloomy stories out there. I’ve read more than one.
I would like to add a few of the verses that precede this one to close this post. – CR
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 3:5)
Wings of the Wind 
Excellent and timely post. To quote Mr. Spurgeon: ” Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her.” I think back on our Lord who had so many things against Him yet “as a man” He conquered all.
Let us all take strength from Him who said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Thanks Manny. Mr. Spurgeon had a God given gift. Statements like: “No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier” flow like streams from the pages of his devotional.
It is very easy to relate this to our Lord who faced the greatest of trials. Indeed, He conquered all.
Always a blessing to hear from you…