Faith is trusting in God. Its such a valuable thing, but we probably don't value it enough. Spurgeon once explained how valuable faith is to God,
Our Lord in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people’s faith that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. (Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings, Complete and unabridged; New modern edition. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2006), Sept 3rd pm reading).
Here Spurgeon is saying that because God values faith so much, God won't stop us experiencing trials that strengthen our faith. Then he goes on to say,
You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire.
Its so true isn't it? I can look back over the last two tough years and say that my faith in God is so much stronger as a result. When you feel the fire of pain, you have nowhere to run except God. As God stands with you in the fire (Dan 3:24-25), your trust in him is strengthened. You can never be the same after it. You know that when the next fire comes he'll be right there with you.
This is what Peter said in the Bible, 2,000 years ago,
'In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.' 1 Pet 1:6-7
