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Find the Silver Lining

Life is difficult; there is no doubt about that. We all hear of friends going through hard times. Perhaps as you read this, you may even find yourself going through difficult times. But life is not without hope, and even in the midst of suffering, life is not without joy.

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he sought to encourage them with words of hope and words of joy. Paul knew much about suffering. Throughout his ministry, he was plagued by some kind of chronic illness, which he called his “thorn in his side.” Many scholars think that he was going blind. We do not know for sure. On top of whatever ailed him physically, he found himself imprisoned numerous times for witnessing his faith in the gospel of Christ. By all accounts, Paul should have been defeated. Paul should have despaired. And yet, even from his own suffering, what was his message to the churches he both founded and nurtured? Joy.

Paul could preach the joy of the gospel because he knew that even in his greatest suffering he had confidence that Christ not only dwelled within him but that he dwelled in Christ. For Paul, his hope was rooted not in confidence in earthly things, but in the heavenly reality that even though he made many mistakes in his old life, even though his body might be wearing out, even though he might face death, Christ had come into this life to dwell with him, to join in his suffering, that he might partake of Christ’s divine joy.

This is why Paul proclaims, even in the midst of his own suffering, even in the midst of conflict in the community, “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say, rejoice!” The pain is real, but it is not greater than the love of God for us in Christ. It is not greater than Christ’s compassion and his joy in us, and so even when difficult times fall upon us, if we are in Christ, we can have confidence that we are not alone. Jesus is with us and Jesus has claimed us as his own. In this, even in the midst of suffering, there is much joy to be found.

Rev. Daniel F. Graves

Comment(1)

  1. Reply
    Terry Dranitsaris says:

    What wonderful expressions of Christ’s love. It does give us hope when we are feeling ill, depressed or going through rough hard times. One doesn’t always realize that the embodiment of Christ is always with us and we allow ourselves to become downtrodden. Knowing that in our sufferings Christ is always with us eases some of that pain or helps us to deal with it, just like St. Paul’s thrown in the flesh or side.

    In all this he never waivered in his devotion and service to Christ and to the early congregations he was instumental in building. The joy he had in Christ was so evident by his expressions Joy and the love he had for his brothers and sisters in the faith. Rejoice in the Lord always! Rejoice. I believe he set a pattern for us as weaker vessels who have sufferings that despite any suffering with the help of Christ all things are possible. As Christ dwelled in him and he in Christ it gave him that endurance do deal with his human frailty. All things are possible with God.

    As you said we are never alone if we have confidence in Christ we can rejoice. We can endure suffering because Christ is in us and has claimed us as his own. I find these words to be comforting and healing. It makes me find a joy within my heart for Chirst as well as my fellow man. Yes I have trials like most people and bad health and I must remember that if I rely on Christ’s shed blood and his redemption for us I will be able to keep joyful in my service to God. Yes I too can find joy in suffering.

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