Growth in Grace

There are some of your graces that would never be discovered if it were not for your trials.
For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is exercised? Depend upon it - God often sends us trails so that our graces may be discovered and that we may be convinced of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery; real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.
God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service.
Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow?
It is for this reason ...

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

C.H. Spurgeon - Morning & Evening - 2/18 a.m.