September 29: Of Chains and Rejoicing

Isaiah 57:14-58:21

Philippians 1:1-26

Psalm 71:1-24

Proverbs 24:9-10

Paul is said to have written Philippians likely while during the two years he was under house arrest in his own home in Rome.  I can't imagine it was pleasant, and while the fate of his Savior would perhaps have given him some inkling the call he answered would lead to difficult times - how often had he been imprisoned, flogged…shipwrecked even?  - I think it would be perfectly human to express frustration, even anger at the suffering his submission to God seemed to require.  



Which is what makes Phi 1:12 and 14. And 18-19 so remarkable: "I want you to know…that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel;" "because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord" and "I will continue to rejoice, 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".  



Last week I wrote about God seeing us through the situations that cause us despair, about how He brought us "through fire and water, but [He] brought us to a place of abundance".  This week God tells me He can do even better, if we let Him, the way Paul did.  Paul didn't have to find his way to that abundant place to rejoice in the work of God - He saw God's hand working amidst, and through, his difficulties.  And his heart was such that, as difficult as his circumstances were, these circumstances, and the results they were achieving, were reasons to rejoice. 

Today's psalm reads, in part, "Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel."  Paul remained under the power of those who were "evil and cruel" - and he didn't. They sought to prevent him from spreading God's word - and, despite putting him under house arrest, they couldn't.  Because of God's work through Paul, people were STILL coming to know Jesus.  



I am having a tough time wrapping my head around this idea that the very painful circumstances we suffer may themselves already be the victory.  The thing is, why should it be difficult?  Our Lord's suffering was part of the victory.  Every scourge, every wound from the crown of thorns, indeed every drop of blood spilt either while praying in anguish in the garden, or hanging wounded on the cross - every one of those moments was part of the victory.  And so, as difficult as it is to imagine, each of those moments was reason to rejoice.  

Father, when things are difficult - when children seem to be making bad choices, when parents are getting old and infirm, when we have bills we cannot pay, when we find ourselves unemployed with little idea where we might find the next job; when we are confronted with illness, injury and death - help us to see that Your will is being done through our suffering, and teach us, as you did Paul, to rejoice - not despite of our chains, but because of them.  



PS Lord - this change we ask of You is WAY beyond our ability to effect on our own.  So if it is going to happen, You have to make it happen.  Just sayin'.  Thanks again.