This is one of the supreme tests! No man is able to bridle his tongue completely in his own strength and by his own effort. However, our heavenly calling is (among other things) to be able to master the tongue in and through God’s grace and power so that the tongue is under full control at all times. Glory to God! What a glorious task! What a glorious goal, and how extremely interesting it is! James 1:26 makes it very clear that our religion is useless if we do not manage to bridle our tongue. Partaking of our heavenly calling stands or falls on this point!!! Therefore it will be particularly rewarding to have one’s main interest in the use and the misuse of the tongue. It is absolutely not fitting to be quiet when we are to pray together, when we are to praise God, when we are to thank God and people, when we are to praise someone, when we are to give a true and upright reply, when we are to testify, when we are to comfort or exhort anyone, etc. However, to be quiet and meek and gentle, to be at perfect rest in God when we are contradicted, reviled, attacked, and cheated, and when everything around us is like the troubled sea, when the situation seems dangerous, when we see no way out, etc., etc.—that is what God is saving us to. What a salvation!!! May everyone seek this salvation so that on the day of trial, in daily life, you can be in complete rest. May God give each one grace to that end.Elias Aslaksen