Faith Faith is to believe. God is a God that chastens. When we love the world and ourselves more than we love him, or when we depart from the righteous path and be defiled with sin, he raises circumstances to cause us to fall sick, to incur loss or suffering so as to quicken our soul and to lead and turn us back from strayed path. For those he loves, he will surely chasten. First, there is tearing and inflicting, then there is healing and balming. The rod of chastening is evidence of love so as to benefit but not to harm us. Sometimes, God permits us to fail and stumble so as to let us learn of our true natural self, just as Peter denied the Lord before the cock crowed three times, following which he cried bitterly. Do no despise a man�s failure as failure often brings about his spiritual growth,. For he who has failed, has growth often surpasses that of one who has never failed. Therefore, let�s not be discouraged by failure, not be disheartened by stumbling. But more importantly let�s not judge those who have failed. However, weakness and failure in a believer�s life often deny him of a gracious testimony, hence, affecting others adversely. It�s best that throughout our life time, we can be watchful, preserved and steadfast until we meet the Lord face to face.