Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop your graces. Some of the graces God has planted in you would never be discovered without these trials. Don't you know that faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing little light except in surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, only discovered in the night of adversity.

Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of his children's graces, to make them shine all the better. Wasn't it just recently that you were on your knees saying, "Lord, I fear I have no faith—let me know that I have faith"? Think about it. Wasn't this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials? For how can you know you have faith until your faith is exercised?

Depend upon it: God often sends us trials so our graces may be discovered, so we may be certified of their existence. But it's not merely discovery—real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.

God often takes away our comforts and privileges to make us better Christians. He doesn't train his soldiers in tents of ease and luxury. No! He turns them out for forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford streams, swim rivers, climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs.

Well then, Christian, doesn't this account for the troubles you're passing through? Isn't the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Isn't this why he's contending with you?

"Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there."