Whenever you face a trial as big as a global pandemic (never thought I’d write that), I encourage you to read Philippians. It’s a small Bible book, only four chapters long, jam-packed with radical truth and practical life application. Lately, its truth has equipped me to press through Coronavirus-related anxiety, fear, sadness, lies, and what ifs to walk in peace with Christ.
Philippians teaches us:
How to cling to Christ when times get tough (like now).
How to experience peace in a shaken world.
How to find joy on the darkest night.
How to carry out your life purpose—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever—when suffering is stalling your progress.
Before we take a closer look at Philippians…
Reflect
- As the Coronavirus causes you to face change, loss, uncertainty, and hardship, what thoughts have gone through your mind?
- What is your mindset on suffering?
- How are you clinging to Christ during this pandemic?
The book of Philippians was originally a letter—one of the most impactful letters ever written!
From: Apostle Paul
To: Christ-followers in Philippi
Paul’s opening sentiments reveal his love and appreciation for his Philippian friends. “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Phil.1:1-7).
PAUL’S HEART
Paul wrote the letter to encourage his Philippian friends, update them on his situation, and continue discipling them from afar. He penned the letter while sitting in a jail cell in Rome. Boldly preaching the gospel landed him behind bars with execution looming. Paul knew Christ. He knew God’s Word. He knew suffering. Paul was legit.
His heart poured onto the page. Because of his close relationship with the Philippians, he shared intimate thoughts and feelings about his situation, Christ, life, and death. What a gift that we get to read his heart!
Paul lost a LOT when he became a prisoner. Fulfilling his missionary calling meant he had been a man on the move, traveling from place to place, encountering new people all along the way. Sitting still in a small jail cell may have been the biggest culture shock of his life!
As we’ve been sheltering-in-place to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, we’ve gained a small, yet valuable glimpse, into what Paul experienced. Life and death were at stake and his future uncertain. A death sentence seemed imminent, yet Paul didn’t rule out the possibility of God miraculously setting him free. His government-enforced quarantine didn’t include a pantry packed with salty snacks, sweet treats, a smart phone, social media, YouTube, TikTok, Zoom, WordPress, podcasting equipment, or livestream capabilities. His quarantine was far more isolating than ours!
Passionate about preaching the gospel and proclaiming Christ, imagine how Paul felt in a confined prison cell, unable to pursue his God-given calling. Discouraged, sad, angry, and fearful probably made the list. I don’t know about you, but that’s how I’ve felt about the Coronavirus pandemic!
Paul wrote: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead”(Phil. 3:7-11).
Surprising response, yes?
Do you view your quarantine like that?
Paul shares that he feels joy in the midst of the trial. He writes, “For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire ois to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Phil. 1:19-23).
To live is Christ.
- To live is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
- To live for God’s glory is to suffer with a high purpose.
Paul lived his days in jail for Jesus, sharing the gospel with prison guards and other inmates. He looked beyond his circumstances and observed the following: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil. 1:12-14).
He concluded, “In every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (Phil. 1:18). A human heart prone to selfishness found joy in suffering for Christ. That is one of God’s greatest miracles!
To die is gain.
- To die is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
- To die is to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically transformed.
PEACE, PURPOSE, AND A PLAN IN TRIALS
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1—Don’t trust your flesh.
In trials, our flesh naturally screams, “FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF! YOU CAN CONTROL THIS! YOU’RE ALL ALONE! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! GOD HAS ABANDONED YOU!” Paul advised, “Glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). Remember this truth from Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
2—Trust Christ.
Paul shared, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:12-13). Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
2—Share Christ’s mindset.
Paul discipled believers to share Christ’s mindset—a mindset of love and humble service to God and man.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being formed in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Phil. 2:3-11
Jesus knows God, the Father. He knows God’s Word, for He is the Word that became flesh.2 He knew suffering on earth, for He was tested in every way.3 Your sufferings are His sufferings and opportunities to know Him more.
3—Prayerfully submit your heart, mind, and requests to Christ.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Phil. 4:4-7
View anxious feelings as your prompt to pray. “The Lord is at hand”—the holy One who died for you—is ready to receive your prayers and commune with you. Submit your heart and mind to Him, and He will align and guard your heart and mind in His peaceful presence.
4—Look for reasons to be thankful.
Paul is a joyful guy. In his letter (ESV), the word “rejoice” appears seven times; the word “joy” appears four times. That’s abundant joy in a message about trials and suffering!
Paul feels joy because he practices an attitude of gratitude, looking for reasons to give thanks:
“Rejoice in the Lord always…” –Phil. 4:4
“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” –Phil. 4:6
Paul gives us a tip on how to be thankful: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).
A person who is thankful in the midst of trials is a witness to the world of a Savior who transforms and turns hearts to Heaven-filled hope!
5—Remember, Heaven with Christ is coming!
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” –Phil. 3:20
We share in Christ’s sufferings now, but we’ll know the fullness of His glory for all of eternity! Here are Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, or inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
Application
- How does your view of suffering line up with God’s Word?
- How does your mindset about the Coronavirus line up with Christ’s mindset in Philippians 2?
- What are specific ways you can glorify God as you live through the Coronavirus pandemic?
- What are you thankful for in this trial?
For more encouragement: spend some time this week reading the full book of Philippians. If you feel overwhelmed by emotions, click here for the “Read Your Heart” activity found in the previous blog.
Heavenly Father,
I praise You, for You are Glorious, Redeemer, Praiseworthy, Purposeful, Relational, Love, Joy, and Peace.
I come to you with an anxious heart. These are the thoughts that are causing me to feel anxiety: __________
Though I feel this way, the truth is/Your Word says: __________
{Open your hands, palms up.} I submit my heart and mind to You. Take the thoughts that don’t line up with your Word and character, and fill my mind with Your truth. Turn my fear into faith. Remove anxiousness from my heart and fill it with Your peace. Please guard my heart and mind, and “let {my} manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).
Empower me to glorify You and apply Your truth in these ways: __________
I am thankful for __________
In the Saving Name of Jesus, Amen.
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CREDITS:
- Verses are ESV.
- 1Philippians 1:7, 9, 19; 4:15
- 2John 1:14
- 3Hebrews 4:15
