The faith of Abraham

In preparing for tonight's talk with the students about the faithfulness of God and the faith of Abraham I came across this lengthy section of John Calvin's commentary on Romans 4:21, one of the passages which we'll be covering in tonight's talk, and I wanted to share it with you in hope that your faith would be encouraged and your heart would be filled to overflowing with thoughts of God's faithful love for His children! 

"As all men acknowledge God's power, Paul seems to say nothing very extraordinary of the faith of Abraham; but experience proves, that nothing is more uncommon, or more difficult, than to ascribe to God's power the honour which it deserves. There is indeed no obstacle, however small and insignificant, by which the flesh imagines the hand of God is restrained from working. Hence it is, that in the slightest trials, the promises of God slide away from us. When there is no contest, it is true, no one, as I have said, denies that God can do all things; but as soon as anything comes in the way to impede the course of God's promise, we cast down God's power from its eminence. Hence, that it may obtain from us its right and its honour, when a contest comes, we ought to determine thus: That it is no less sufficient to overcome the obstacles of the world, than the strong rays of the sun are to dissipate the mists. We are indeed wont ever to excuse ourselves, that we derogate (detract) nothing from God's power, whenever we hesitate respecting His promises, and we commonly say, "The thought, that God promises more in His word than He can perform, (which would be a falsehood and blasphemy against Him), is by no means the cause of our hesitation; but that it is the defect which we feel in ourselves." But we do not sufficiently exalt the power of God, unless we think it to be greater than our weakness. Faith then ought not to regard our weakness, misery, and defects, but to fix wholly its attention on the power of God alone; for if it depends on our righteousness or worthiness, it can never ascend to the consideration of God's power. And it is a proof of the unbelief, of which he had before spoken, when we mete (measure out) the Lord's power with our own measure. For faith does not think that God can do all things, while it leaves Him sitting still, but when, on the contrary, it regards His power in continual exercise, and applies it, especially, to the accomplishment of His word: for the hand of God is ever ready to execute whatever He has declared by His mouth."

Soli Deo Gloria!!!