If you read the gospels like a newspaper, i.e.looking for new information you might notice something: Jesus was big on the kingdom of heaven.That might seem a bit obvious but its interesting to me that we are not. Jesus spoke incessantly about the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God and we talk about eternity in heaven.Jesus spoke about the gospel or good news of the kingdom but we talk about the gospel of Jesus dying for our sins so that we don't have to go to hell. Don't get me wrong,

How many times have we prayed for God to allow us to have more faith? 

I know I have prayed that many times, and honestly, I think it's going to just "poof" happen and then rejoice in what God has done.  For us to grow in faith means that we will be stretched ( to extend in length, to pull, strain)so that faith can go to a higher level.  As we read the definition of stretch we see that it's not a joy ride.  It is painful and tiring and it takes you to a place you've never been before.  I have recently gone through the stretching of my faith.