stephen R Harrison

Do you think you could write a book about joy from prison if you had been wrongfully imprisoned? Sounds tough, but the Apostle Paul did it. He wrote Philippians from jail while maintaining joy in his life. He didn’t complain about his circumstances, living conditions, or quality of the legal system. In fact he used his circumstances to encourage others. Paul was most likely chained to a prison guard for the length of his imprisonment. His food was more than likely inadequate and even spoiled. He experienced frequent beatings and punishment with no law on his side to uphold his rights as a prisoner. You would think with no exposure to sunlight, infestation of rats and lice, unsanitary living conditions, rotten food, beatings, and no hopes of being released would keep you from being joyful. But true joy in the Lord, as we learn from Paul, comes from the Lord, not our circumstances or perfect conditions. Paul had found true joy in Jesus and tell the church of Philippi his joy would be completed by their unity, love, and selflessness not his release, justice, or restitution of wrong. He found joy in the church acting like church should instead of his conditions being changed.

Look at what Paul said to the church of Philippi instead of complaining about his situation. “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:1-4). As much as he had to complain about he focused on bettering others instead of griping about himself.

I need Paul’s perspective in my daily life. There is so much to complain about that doesn’t even come close to the difficulties Paul experienced and many others face. Even if the circumstances are real and seem worthy of complaining we must remember to be like Paul and “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Our prayers should be focused on God’s mission for our life not on bettering our condition. Instead of complaining about our situations we must seek to see God’s plan in our situation. Paul thought of the others around him and not himself during his trial. He had plenty to vent about but instead boasted in the Lord and sought to keep the Lord’s will in front of him. He didn’t pray for his own needs as much as he prayed for the needs of others.

How is your joy? Have your temporary situations caused you to lose sight of God’s overall plan for your life? Maybe you need a new perspective. Take a moment and ask yourself how you can use your situations for the Lord. Another important perspective question is are you praying for yourself more than you are others and are you complaining more than you are praying and thanking God. Let me pray for us. Lord, help us see the bigger picture. Keep us from complaining and griping when life doesn’t go as we would have wanted. Help us maintain a perspective of praise in the midst of problems. We desire to pray for your church to grow in love, unity, and serving. Help us model this in our daily lives and remember true joy is found in you, not just when things seem perfect. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.