Faith tested is faith strengthened. We arc not talking about failure. Failure is not faith. All our failure springs from unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God toward us. Faith sees the object, hope desires it and love enjoys it.
Abraham is set before us for our learning as an example of these things. He certainly had his faith sorely tried. Of him it is written.
“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Rom. 4:18-20.
Surely the testing of Abraham's faith in waiting so long to have Isaac strengthened his faith in God for the later and far greater trial that is recounted in the faith chapter.
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said. That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up. even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." Heb. 11:17-19.
The confidence that Abraham gained by waiting so long for his son must have helped him greatly to go through that supreme trial of offering up Isaac later. I wonder if you, as a tested Christian, might be able to recall similar testings of your faith? Has a heavier. more difficult trial followed a smaller one in your life? There is an extremely comforting verse for us in 1 Cor. 10:13.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful. who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Another thing to remember is that both the faith and the test of it come from God. Eph. 2:8 clearly says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Gad." God gives the faith. He tests it and He rewards for it. "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:9.
In the United States, the dollar bill has written on it, "In God we trust." Do you trust in God? "He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John 3:33. Ed.
Faith is a grasping of Almighty power;
The hand of man laid on the arm of God;
The grand and blessed hour
In which the things impossible to me
Become the possible, O Lord, through Thee.