We are familiar with the stories of Job, Joseph, and others who submitted to their suffering and refused to complain about their circumstances, but we don’t care about following their examples. Instead, we argue against what God allows into our lives. Knowing we can’t change it or control it we complain anyway– we continue fighting a losing battle. The only solution to this situation is submission, yielding ourselves to providence–even though God gives no explanation as to why things are as they are. But,when you truly trust God submitting to Him is no problem. You know that in yielding yourself to God you are in good hands—you couldn’t be in a safer place.

Regardless of our circumstances we can have confidence that we are more than conquerors. He gives us strength for the struggle. David knew that and therefore he made his resolve. He knew he could rely on God. So can we! As the prophet said, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.“(Isa. 40:29). Therefore we have no excuse for dereliction of duty and no right to turn back. David’s declaration should give us courage to face any difficulty. His God is our God and He changes not.

One man said that he was more afraid of his duties than of his sins; for his duties often made him proud, but his sins always made him humble. Another said, ‘We must take heed not only of our sins, but of our good works.’

Of this matter, Thomas Brooks wrote,”Duties can never have too much diligence used about them, nor too little confidence placed in them. They are good helps, but bad saviors. It is necessary we do them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot dissuade us from performing pious duties, then his next work will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make saviors of them; because this will as certainly ruin our souls….Now, let all these things work you to renounce your own righteousness—and to take sanctuary alone in the pure, perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ, and in the free grace of God.”

Dear friend, we cannot compensate for the wrong we’ve done by doing something right. When it comes to the forgiveness of sin and salvation from judgment, works won’t work! Good deeds can never make up for the sins we have committed. Nothing short of faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can save us from sin.–HDS

Turning Point magazine says,”When Harold Russell’s hands were blown off in an accident, he sank into depression. One day Charley McGonegal, who had lost his own hands in war, told Russell, ‘For everything you have missed, you have gained something else.’

Russell rallied and went on to become an ambassador for the disabled. He won an Oscar for his role in the movie,  The Best Years of Our Lives . He wrote, ‘My weakness… has turned out to be my greatest strength. I didn’t think so at the time it happened and I don’t think I’d ever willingly lose my hands, if I had it to do all over again. But having lost them I feel perhaps I have gained many fine things…. It is not what you have lost, but what you have left that counts.’

When we look at past losses, it provides an opportunity to recalibrate for future service. The Lord can leverage our losses for ministry. Don’t give up. Your best years are now, and your best days are ahead.”