Justine Vandenbrink

Philippians 1:12-19 NIV
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Reflection:
Facing trials is part of life. No one is exempt from difficulties, though we often feel like we’re the only ones. “Why me”, right? Whenever I face a challenging situation, I try to remind myself of Romans 8:28:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

We’ve all heard the saying “hindsight is 20/20”. How often have you found that to be true in your own life? How often have you come to realize that an awful event or period wound up shaping you into a better stronger person or left you open to receiving a wonderful opportunity? I’ve experienced many of these reversals, and it has helped strengthen my faith in God as well as the things God works for good in my life. I actually started to keep a list of these events on my phone so that the next time I faced a difficult situation, I could immediately look back at my list and be reminded that, despite how things seem in the moment, God will work it out for my highest good. God always has and always will.

Paul is facing a serious trial. He’s in prison, yet his faith gives him confidence that God’s blessings and power are still with him. More than that, he was actually joyful. Paul wasn’t stuck in the past and getting upset about how he came to be imprisoned, nor was he worried about how long he would be there. And sure enough, God did not waste Paul’s time in prison; he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians all during that period. It is the same with us – God never wastes our time.

We often tie joy to our circumstances, telling ourselves “I’ll be happy when…” But if there is ever a time to be joyful it’s NOW. If we continually make our joy contingent on the improvement of our circumstances, it’s difficult to ever experience it for more than short, fleeting moments, leaving us in a constant state of wanting. When we make a conscious effort to be present, we take notice of the little things and experience gratitude for all that we do have – a God who loves and provides for us among them. 

I’ve been on my own quest to find more joy in my day-to-day, and I will say that while practicing presence can be a challenge, it has a profound impact on how I live and experience life. And isn’t that what God ultimately wants for us? To consistently experience joy so that we may spread joy and serve others? Take a moment today to think about all the reasons you have to be joyful, right here, in the present. 

Prayer
Lord, thank you for walking with me as I go into each day and ensuring that every event (good or bad) is worked together for my good and according to your purpose. I thank you for this promise, allowing me to experience true joy in the present moment, knowing that regardless of the trials I may face I do not face them alone. Help me not only experience this gift but also spread that joy in my service to others. Amen.