I read this quote the other day by George Müller: "God delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God's hands as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith." Is it true?
In Luke 17:5 the apostles asked for their faith to be increased, and Jesus did not condemn them for that request. I think the Bible was written to increase our faith (Romans 10:17). So it would seem like the first sentence is true. Is the rest of the quote true? When you read passages like Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4, the rest of the quote seems to be true also. So I think the quote is true, but I do not like it.
I do not like it because it is tough. I do not want to go through trials, difficulties, and defeats. I want to win and win with ease. If God is all powerful (I believe He is), why can we not just win with ease? God can win with ease. I need work. If I am going to be what God calls me to be, which is more like Jesus, it is going to take working out the old and bringing in the new, and that is not easy. It is kind of like exercising. I need to continually increase my workout to get results, but that is not easy. Lifting heavier weight is tough and the next day can be miserable, but those muscles have to be torn to build back stronger. I need to feed them good food, not junk food, so they can build back stronger. But I like junk food. I want easy patience, holiness, and godliness, but the fact is they do not come easy.
When you face trials, difficulties, and defeats, do not become bitter. That can easily happen. Become stronger in the Lord, trusting that He is molding you into the image of His son.