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「要指示我，你為何與我爭辯。」（聖經約伯記十章 2 節）
哦，受試煉的人們！神正在訓練你們諸般的德行。有很多德行，必須在試煉中，才會彰顯。 你的信心在夏天不會像在冬天那麼大而明顯。愛心好像螢火蟲一般，非在黑暗的環境中，發不出明亮的光來。盼望好像星一般 ── 在順利的日光下是看不見甚麼的，唯在不幸的黑夜才會照出美麗的光彩來。 所有的苦難都是寶石匣內所襯的黑絨，為要叫寶石 ── 我們的德行 ── 顯得更美麗的。
你不是剛跪著禱告說：「主啊，我怕我沒有信心；讓我知道我有沒有信心」嗎？你這樣禱告，豈不是不知不覺地在求試煉嗎？因為你的信心不受試煉，你怎麼能知道你有沒有信心呢？神給我們試煉，常是為著要彰顯我們的德行，讓我們可以知道我們到底有沒有這些德行。並且，試煉不只叫我們的德行彰顯，也叫我們的德行長進。
神訓練祂的兵士，不能在安適奢華的宮中訓練他們，必須在野地的營中訓練他們，祂必須打發他們出去實習 ── 兼程進兵，勞力服役。有時叫他們攀山，有時叫他們涉水，有時叫他們游泳，有時叫他們背著重負行軍。
基督徒啊，這是神的方法，難道你還抱怨嗎？ ── 司布真（C. H. Spurgeon）
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"Show me wherefore thou contendest with me."(Job 10:2.)
PERHAPS, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never have been discover if it were not for the trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too oft like a glowworm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. hope itself is like a star─not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black folds in which God doth set the jewels of his children's graces, to make them shine the better.
It was but a little while ago that, on thy knees, thou wast saying, "Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith." Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?─ for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it. God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery; real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.
God trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers and climb mountains, and walk many a weary mile with heavy knapsacks on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you? --- C. H. Spurgeon.
To be left unmolested by Satan is no evidence of blessing.
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