"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ..." (Phil. 1:12-13)

The people who consistently manifest the greatest joy are those who refuse to be discouraged by their circumstances. Someone has said, "If life hands you a lemon, make lemonade." Charles Goodyear's lemon was a prison sentence, resulting from a contempt of court citation. While in prison, Goodyear became an assistant in the kitchen, and while there, he continued to work on an idea. In the process, he discovered a method for vulcanizing rubber. His lemon, a prison sentence, became our lemonade. He produced better tires which meant better travel and a better way of life.

Continued faithfulness to God, in spite of difficult circumstances, will eventually result in manifold blessings.