Luther on Saturday

God delights in our temptations, and yet hates them; he delights in them when they drive us to prayer:  he hates them when they drive us to despair.  The Psalm says: An humble and contrite heart is an acceptable sacrifice to God, &c.  Therefore, when it goes well with you, sing and praise God with a hymn: goes it evil, that is, does temptation come, then pray:  "For the Lord has pleasure in those that fear him;' and that which follows is better: "and in them that hope in his goodness:" for God helps the lowly and humble seeing he says: "Thinkest thou my hand is shortened, that I cannot help?"  He that feels himself weak in faith, let him always have a desire to be strong therein, for that is a nourishment which God relishes in us.

Martin Luther, Tabletalk