On one occasion the disciples asked the Lord, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:55And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. (Luke 17:5)). However, the Lord answered to show them that while faith does grow, it grows by putting it in operation. If you have a friend or business acquaintance that you have known a short time you may feel that you can trust them. But if you have known them for many years and they have always been worthy of your confidence your faith in them has grown.
It is the same with the Lord. The better we know Him and the more we trust Him, the more our faith in Him grows. Trials and afflictions tend to do this in a very real way. In fact this is often the reason for the trials and tests. As Peter denotes it, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)). It is not so much the trial that is precious but the faith that shines out as a result of the trial. When faith is tried and proven it is of great value to the Lord, and there is fruit for His glory in our life while here in this world which is the sphere of faith. We will not need faith when we are safe home in the Father’s house. But until then, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7)).
There is another wonderful fact to consider and that is that we are never tried or tested above the measure of faith that has been developed in our Christian experience, and the faith that has been given to us by Himself. “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:33For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)).
The Lord values our complete faith and trust and will reward for it in a coming day of manifestation. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward” (Hebrews 10:3535Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35)).
Faith is a perfect confidence,
God’s Word it rightly claims;
Believing, trusting, wavers not,
But ev’ry promise names.
Though through this world by faith we walk,
Our Lord goes on before;
We follow closely by His side,
And trust Him more and more.
We do not walk by sight, to faith
The path is clearly seen;
Scripture, our guide, our only light—
A full resource has been.
We do not know the future here,
But this at least we see,
That when the path of faith is o’er,
We shall in glory be.
It is faith that gives purpose and substance to our life as we pass through this world. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:11Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)). When our confidence in the Lord is enlarged, in the ups and downs of our walk of faith, we can surely acknowledge that it has been all worthwhile. And remember, He never disappoints our faith! In fact we are told that so much does He value any little faith in our life that He promises to reward us for it. We are encouraged, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward” (Hebrews 10:3535Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35)).
Here is how the hymn-writer, John Charles Ryle (May 10, 1816 ( June 10, 1900) expressed it:
Faith is not what we see or feel;
It is a simple trust
In what the God of love has said
Of Jesus as the Just.
It looks not on the things around,
Nor on the things within,
It takes its flight to scenes above,
Beyond the sphere of sin.