James 1:3-4 (NKJV)
…Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
During the 13 years Funke waited to have a child, her faith was tried and greatly strengthened. Because of this, she had become a person of great esteem in heaven. She had a robust relationship with the Lord and could stand in the gap for people as a territorial priest before God. After her trial was over, she always wondered if she would have been so close to the Lord is she didn’t face it.
Father Abraham is known today as the father of faith because of his patience in waiting on God for Isaac, and his willingness to sacrifice Isaac because he trusted God that much. If Abraham did not patiently trust God for so long to receive Isaac, he most likely would not be known today as the father of faith. His seeming suffering was working for him an eternal weight of glory.
In James 1:2-4, God says we should count it all joy when we face trials and temptations because they help to strengthen our faith and make us perfect (if we faint not). Do not let the devil deceive you to think that because of your trials you are under a curse and you need to start running from pillar to post. As long as you know you are with God and living under His authority in obedience, you have nothing to fear because, after your night of weeping, the daybreak of laughter and glory will come (Psalm 30:5).
Go into today thanking God and remembering that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28-NIV).
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Source: Devotional