This is a post written from the heat of the battle. If you follow me on social media, you know I don’t have this all figured out. However, I am looking to one who did as a guide. If you find yourself a little lost in your circumstances too, let’s link arms and follow Paul together, shall we?
Paul’s Circumstances
The main theme of Paul’s letter to the Philippians is joy. This might not seem all that unusual to you, unless you understand he wrote the letter in jail. Prison in Paul’s day was not a safely guarded 9×9 room with proper bathroom facilities, a mattress and clean bedding, three meals a day, and cable.
If I were in Paul’s sandals, I wouldn’t be writing such a cheerful letter to my friends encouraging them to “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
My letter would be more along the lines of, “HELP!!! Get me out of here! Call your congressmen! Get me a fair trial! I need a good lawyer! Pray God gets me out of this mess!”
Paul’s Perspective
Paul had hope and joy in impossible circumstances. Can you imagine? He was an innocent man, living in horrible conditions, awaiting news of a possible death sentence, and he sends a letter saying (my translation of Philippians 1:12-30):
Hey friends, I know you think this situation is bad, but really it’s good because the gospel is being furthered. Everybody in the palace is talking about what Christ has done in my life. And a lot of Christians are becoming bold in their witness because of my imprisonment. There are a few guys out there preaching out of envy and talking badly about me, but they are preaching the gospel and that’s all that matters.
Besides, I know you are praying for me. Between your prayers and the Holy Spirit’s power, I know that Christ will be glorified whether or not they kill me. I’d really love to go heaven right now, but I also know that I have some work to do still so I believe I’ll be released shortly.
I want to encourage you to not lose hope. Live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ so that I will be encouraged by your testimony. And don’t worry about what might happen. It is a gift to suffer for Christ’s sake. Trust me. I know.”
Paul’s Example
In these few verses, Paul gives us four ways we can find hope in our circumstances.
- Focus on the Gospel: Every Christian’s life is part of a bigger picture. What happens to us is part of God’s plan to bring Himself glory. How? By drawing people to Him. When they see Christians trusting God in their difficulties it sparks their curiosity, which then provides opportunity for the Gospel to impact their lives. Paul knew this and capitalized on his suffering to spread the Good News of Jesus.
- Be Thankful for Everything: I’m sure Paul wasn’t happy to be in jail with people were badmouthing him. Still, he found reasons to be thankful. I discuss this in length in The Wonder Woman’s Manifesto. Thankfulness rewires our brains, changing negativity to positivity and complaint to praise. It takes work, but it is our key to joy.
- Remember Others Are Watching: Paul knew people were watching him. The guards in the prison, the civil leadership, and most importantly, the churches he ministered to. His disposition proved Jesus is worth any difficulty you might face—even death.
- Reframe Your Circumstances: To Paul, prison just meant a captive audience. Slanders were megaphones for the Gospel. Death was a long-awaited opportunity to give Jesus a hug. If Paul can reframe his circumstances, I can. And you can in your difficulty too.
These four things take deliberate action and forced repetition. But with a little work I believe we, like Paul, can find our hope and joy in all circumstances.
Do you find yourself struggling with your circumstances? Please know you are not alone. If you would be so kind to share a little in the comments, I would love to pray with you and for you.
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