“The secret to joy is to keep looking for Him where we doubt He is.” -Ann Voskamp
Philippians 4:11-13
In my opinion, one of the more fascinating conversions in the Bible is that of Paul. Initially a staunch persecutor of Christians, Paul (when he was Saul of Tarsus) approved of and was present during the stoning of Stephen. His subsequent Damascus Road experience allowed him to become one of the most prolific apostles and writers. What was revealed to him through the power of the Holy Spirit has influenced millions of believers over the course of history. Because of Paul’s obedience and dedication to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, many people- including myself- will be able to spend eternity in Heaven. But it won’t be without struggle.
In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul writes: “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Paul had truly learned how to live in joy regardless of the circumstances. Negative circumstances are the places where we convince ourselves that God absolutely cannot be because He is good. While it is true that yes, He is good, He also can use negative situations to shape us and mold us if we allow Him (Romans 8:28).
Negative circumstances are a fact of life; just as we will have happy times, we will also have not-so-happy times, and we have to contend with them. The mindset in which we approach the not-so-happy ones will dictate our frame of mind as we go through them. Concentrating on Jesus as we walk through whatever fire is ahead of us causes us to maintain our joy even when there is no reason to have any. While the time in history is debatable, most agree that Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the book of Philippians, often referred to as “The Epistle of Joy.” In it, Paul references “joy” or “rejoicing” 15 different times. The average person, including a Christian, would be hard-pressed to view a time of imprisonment as joyful; however, Paul did. He was able to look for Jesus while there and doing so allowed him to revel in the finished work of Christ- His love for us shown by His crucifixion- and thus find joy.
It takes time to be able to find joy in the middle of negative circumstances. It cannot be done without careful reflection and meditation on scriptures. To look for joy in the middle of negative circumstances requires prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit because we have to operate in the perspectives of longsuffering, patience, and contentedness. This is neither easy nor enjoyable, but it CAN be done. Jesus can be located wherever we seek Him; it’s easy to find and see Him when things are going well. It is easy to locate Him within the most favorable of circumstances. It is not hard to identify His hand in seasons of victory. Recognizing and honoring Him when we are within the throes of defeat and trekking through the drudgery of muck and mire will allow us to truly find joy because that joy will not be the by-product of our circumstances, but the outcome of our love of Him and His love for us.
Prayer for Release: God, You are omnipresent and all-knowing. You are with me and closer than my next breath. Allow me to see You through my tears, even when it’s hard. Thank You for your Holy Spirit who is always with me to comfort me and remind me that I do not have to be captive to my negative feelings.