Welcome to The Week In Words, where we share quotes from the last week’s reading. If something you read this past week inspired you, caused you to laugh, cry, think, dream, or just resonated with you in some way, please share it with us, attributing it to its source, which can be a book, newspaper, blog, Facebook — anything that you read. More information is here.
Here are a couple that caught my eye this week:
From a friend’s Facebook:
“God delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.” ~ George Muller
I’m guilty of wanting more faith without wanting the situations that help to develop it. But that’s kind of like wanting to be fit without exercising.
This was at the beginning of a chapter in Goforth of China:
What Thou hast done and doest Thou know’st well.
And I will help Thee; gently in Thy fire
I will lie burning; on Thy potter’s wheel
I will whirl patient, though my brain should reel.
Thy grace shall be enough the grief to quell,
And growing strength perfect through weakness dire.~ George MacDonald
That’s not how I naturally feel, but may He give me grace to “whirl patient” in the Potter’s fire. Sometimes after a few trials in life we can tend to think, “OK, I’ve had my share, that should be it.” But as long as we live we’ll need continued shaping.
I hope you’ll visit some of the other participants as well and glean some great thoughts to ponder. And don’t forget to leave a comment here, even if you don’t have any quotes to share! 🙂
Stray Thoughts 
The food of faith—sometimes it’s a little like eating our vegetables. It’s not always what we want for supper, but God wants to keep us healthy. I’m thankful he also gives us dessert too. 🙂
“A Christian is one who makes it easier for others to believe in God.”
Unknown
I love the Mueller quote. Have a blessed day!
I have a serious quote on my blog post today, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for this meme. I’d be happy to link up if you think it fits!
I appreciate the Mueller quote. Today I thought if God never allowed me to feel frustrated or helpless then would I ever depend on Him. The trials may be hard to bear but they keep me close to the Lord for which I’m thankful.
I’m way too guilty of that first bit–wanting victory without trials, patience without exercise and so on and so forth. Thankfully, God uses His means to accomplish the end goal that I do desire. Even if, when I’m tempted to complain about my circumstances, I have to remind myself daily that this current struggle exists because God loves me and wants to conform me to the image of Christ.
Wonderful quotes. There’s certainly nothing like the fire of trials to grow (or squelch) our faith.
When the going gets tough, my husband and I are fond of saying “stretch me Lord!”
I was reminded of a passage recently that says we should view all trials as the Lord’s discipline. Ouch! (Heb 12:7, 11) (Even when we’ve been wronged Lord?) He intends to use all of it for our good; for our training in righteousness. It’s a relief to know God has the power to bring the resurrection after the crucifixion; to create beauty from ashes.