“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”–James 1:2-3

In December of 1987, a Soviet cosmonaut returned to earth after nearly 11 months in orbit above the earth. He was in very good health, which hadn’t always been the case in journeys like this. Five years earlier, after 211 days in space, two cosmonauts were sick for almost a month after they returned from orbit.

So what was the difference? Well, after the earlier cosmonauts returned to earth atrophied and sick after so long in zero gravity, the Soviets invented the “penguin suit,” a running suit laced with elastic bands that resisted every move the wearer made. This forced the cosmonauts to exert strength every time they moved. And it was the resistance that strengthened them.

It can be easy to long for days without difficulty. But God knows that if we’re to become stronger, we must face resistance in our lives. Now, that doesn’t mean we should only long for hard days, but it does mean that the resistance we face has a purpose of making us stronger.

The truth is that an easier life leads to weaker spiritual muscles. But if we’ll face our troubles head on, fully trusting in Christ’s power in us, we’ll grow stronger spiritually and be ready for the next challenge that comes our way.

Pray and ask God to develop your “spiritual muscles” by giving you the resolve to face life’s challenges head on with faith in Him. (Senior Living)

Let us then love Him with all our heart, serve Him with all our strength, glorify Him in all that we do, give to Him all our devotion, trust Him for all our needs, and find our pleasure in pleasing Him. Do these things and you will not fail. In the doing of these things we will be able to keep going and growing regardless of the circumstances.

“Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD;….“–Psalms 25:15

The Lord directs us to look to Him for all that we need — and look away from all that we fear and all that troubles us. Looking to man dishonors the Lord — and ends in disappointment. Looking to ourselves fills us with gloom, sadness, doubts, and fears. It was wise, therefore, of the Psalmist to keep his eyes fixed steadily and habitually on the Lord.

Beloved! In all your sufferings, let your eyes be ever on the Lord. Look to Him . . .
for ease in pain,
for strength in weakness,
for comfort in sorrow,
and for relief in distress.

Keep your eye fixed on Him as your Father and your God — who has pledged to you in His Word to do you good.

Looking to the Lord will relieve you, as it is written of some of old: “They looked unto Him — and were lightened.” Psalm 34:5. They expected relief and deliverance from the Lord, and they looked to Him for it. He was as good as His word, and they were filled with joy and peace.

Friends may fail you, relatives may neglect or be unkind to you, and those you love most may be unable to help you — but look to the Lord! He will never fail you or neglect you. He will prove Himself both able and willing to help you.

Let nothing divert your attention, then, from the Lord — but carry everything to Him, and exercise implicit confidence in Him.

Cast on Him every care,
commit to Him every work, and
lay before Him every difficulty.
You will prove that He is not only able — but is also willing to do for you infinitely more than we might ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20.)

Whenever Satan tempts you, or guilty fears torment you — turn your eyes to Calvary and see Jesus, your Savior — suffering, bleeding, and dying for you — and so you will enjoy peace.

Lord, help me to look to You for all my direction in life, so that I might not be led astray by my deceitful heart. Let me praise You and bring glory to Your Name every moment of my life.–James Smith

“But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.” Psalm 141:8

To enjoy peace in this troubled world we must learn to endure by patiently submitting ourselves to what God causes or allows— regardless of how painful it might be. Living in a fallen world, life will never be perfect. But as difficult as it might be we only make matters worse if we resent and resist it.

J. R. Miller wrote:”- – – if there are unavoidable ills or burdens, which we cannot by any energy of our own remove or lighten—they must be submitted to without murmuring. We have a saying that, “What cannot be cured—must be endured.” But the very phrasing tells of an unyielding heart! There is submission to the inevitable—but no reconciliation to it!
True contentment does not chafe under disappointments and losses—but accepts them, becomes reconciled to them, and at once looks about to find something good in them. This is the secret of happy living! And when we come to think of it—how senseless it is to struggle against the inevitable! Discontent helps nothing. It never removes a hardship, or makes a burden any lighter, or brings back a vanished pleasure. One never feels better, for complaining. It only makes him wretched!

A starling in a cage struggles against its fate, flies against the wire walls, and beats upon them in efforts to be free—until its wings are all bruised and bleeding! A canary is shut in another cage, accepts the restraint, perches itself upon its bar and sings. Surely, the canary is wiser than the starling!