Especially when you consider that faith is regarded by the Church as a “theological virtue” - that is, a virtue that can only originate from God’s graces Himself.
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk
How would you know if God did not give that person the gift they asked for? Most likely, if someone did not feel that virtue suddenly became easy they would complain that God did not give them the gift of faith. But if you talk to people who live a faith filled life, or especially if you read the biographies of the great saints, you will learn that they did not find it easy to live a life of faith. In fact, if you peruse this forum you will learn that.
An analogy: It seems pretty obvious that Michael Jordan has more talent for playing basketball than I do (if I try to make a free throw basket I do not always hit the same side of the court as the basket). Who practices more, Michael or me? Michael, by many thousands of hours. If he did not practice, no one would no how talented he is. In fact, if you talk to high level coaches in any sport they can tell you about students that they have had who seemed very talented (they had a gift for the sport) but they did not put in the hard work necessary for that talent (gift) to come to fruition.
If you ask God for faith, He will give it. Then you need to practice. And practice. And practice. When you have practiced very hard, and your spiritual muscles are tired, that is when your real work begins. Just as in a sport, you don’t wave at the practice field as you go by, and think that is enough. You don’t show up at practice, just to watch everybody else. You get out there and sweat. You practice hardest on the details that you do the worst.
I have often warned my friends, especially mothers of young children, NOT to pray for patience, because God hears and answers this prayer, by giving you lots and lots of opportunities to practice. (That was partly a joke, by the way)
