the trials of being alive vs. the trials of being reborn

This morning Chambers had a very powerful reminder of what faith is and isn't in My Utmost for His Highest

Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of unsyllabled isolation. Never confound the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him – I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do.

Faith is not believing in magic. Faith is believing God. Faith is hearing what God says about Himself, about the world, about us, about you and about His Son and believing it. Believing God will look like something. You are not born believing God. You are not born His child. You are born by nature and soon after by choice in sin and self absorption. In other words, at our conception the self is born. Only later, if by grace you are given faith, you die to this self and are reborn to God in Christ.

In this life we go through many trials and tribulations. Chambers points out that a good deal of these are simply just part of being alive. In these, we are like our neighbor in every way. We are all in this particular dilemma together. However, the trials of faith are unique to those who through faith and by grace persevere in proving that God's Gospel is mighty to save, even someone like you.

Are you so committed to God that you really believe He is both Sovereign and Good? 
Can He do whatever He wants and still receive your gratitude and worship for Who He is? Do you doubt He can do what He wants? 
Do you doubt that what He wants to do is good? 
Always? 

These are the trials of faith. 

When common sense and modern sentiments are in direct conflict with what God says about Himself and you by faith place your lot with Jesus; this is faith. It is not always a simple matter of disbelieving the spirit of the age, but a constant matter of believing that God is Who He says He is.