Martin Luther wrote to fellow-reformer Philipp Melanchthon, whose faith was faltering:
“I pray for you very earnestly and I am deeply pained that you keep sucking up cares like a leech and thus renmdering my prayers vain. Christ knows whether it comes from stupidity or teh Spirit, but I for my part am not very much troubled about our cause. Indeed, I am more hopeful than I expected to be. God who is able to raise the dead is also able to uphold his cause when it is falling or to raise it up again when it has fallen or to move it forward when it is standing. If we are not worthy instruments to accompany his purpose, he wil find others. If we are not strengthened by his promises, wher in all the world are the people to whom these promises apply? But more of this another time. After all my writing this is like pouring water into the sea.
Ray Ortlund
From the book “Isaiah: God Saves Sinners (Preaching the Word)”