God himself will have his servants tried and exercised by difficulties. He never intended us the reward for sitting still; nor the crown of victory, without a fight.
It is necessary that our sharpest trials should sometimes spring from our dearest comforts, else we should be in danger of forgetting ourselves and setting up our rest here.
We write our benefits in dust and our injuries in marble. . . . It ought not so to be. If our memories were more tenacious of the merciful visitations of our God our faith would often be strengthened in times of trial.
How often is such the case with us: some sore trial presses, and we cry unto God for relief, but before His answer comes, matters appear to get worse. Ah, that is in order that His hand may be the more evident.
When you observe that the fire in your room is getting dull, you do not always put on more coal, but simply stir with the poker; so God often uses the black poker of adversity in order that the flames of devotion may burn more brightly.
Desperate times call for faithful men, and not for careful men. The careful men come later, and write the biographies of the faithful men, lauding them for their courage.