I confess that I struggle
with being joyful. More often than not I find myself complaining instead,
whining about how someone has wronged me, how things are not going according to
plan, or plotting how I can fix the situation if I try a little harder. I can't
help but wonder, after years of following Christ, is this the mark of a
Christian life?
Our recent Growth Group Bible Studies at St. Andrews have been particularly refreshing for many reasons. Besides the fellowship, it has been invigorating to explore anew what it means to live with joy as Paul did and wrote about in the letter of Philippians. The apostle Paul talks about contentment and joy in the midst of staggering circumstances. Rejected, abandoned, maligned, persecuted, beaten and whipped, hungry and cold, and imprisoned now as he writes his epistle, Paul lists his lot in life. And what do I get upset about? A long line at the grocery store.
What's the secret to Paul's contentment?
Paul says in Philippians 4:4-7,
"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"Rejoice", Paul says. Such a simple command he says it twice. These words would otherwise be cheap and pithy if spoken by any normal man. But Paul is not normal. He's well acquainted with hardships. He is radical for Christ. Christ means everything to him to the point where he would much rather die than live. And yet in the midst of his toil and labor he says, "rejoice."
Is this even realistic for us as everyday Christians? How do we rejoice? How does one begin to have a vibrant life that is full of joy and vigor towards an uncertain future? Surely there is a way to live like this.
As Christians what is there worth celebrating and rejoicing in, especially in a world that is broken?
Rejoicing in Christ's victory over sin and death: This is the heart of the Gospel, and the crux of our human existence, that, as the lyrics of this song so aptly explain, a "Holy God in love became perfect man to bear my blame. On the cross he bore my sin. By His death I live again." Jesus' death on the cross assuages a God who should rightly and justly pour out His wrath upon me. I rejoice because Christ took that wrath in my stead and now I stand righteous before God. The problem of sin is dealt with.
Rejoicing in our relationship with God: Paul exhorts us to rejoice and live with a gentle spirit. Why? He says, "the Lord is near." Why does God's presence make any significant impact on our daily lives? Considering that we are often left to struggle through life alone, it is a great comfort to know that God not only walks with us, but is intimately acquainted with who we are. Moreover, he desires for us to know Him and walk in fellowship with Him. In verse 6, Paul tells us to present our requests before God. We have no business presenting our requests before the Holy God of this universe unless He invites us into His presence as His child. What a privilege. There is much to rejoice for.
Paul says that when we rejoice and bring our petitions before God in gratitude of the gospel and full knowledge of His goodness, peace comes. Peace comes as our focus shifts from our problems onto a God who is big enough to deal with them.
At the end of the day, our responses in light of our circumstances reflect our theology. And while people often hesitate to talk about theology, we are not discussing doctrine or creeds but rather our simple perception of how we see God. Our response to life shows our basic perceptions of the character of God. Our fear in the midst of adversity shows a mistrust of God's goodness. Our anxiety in the face of trails reveals an incomplete view of God's sovereignty. Our tendency to grasp at control shows a stubborn unwillingness to relinquish life to a God who is all-powerful and all-wise.
Conversely, how we respond with grace and joy in our suffering proclaims a God who loves us, who is for us, and has our good in store. It reflects the belief of the essential truth Paul argues in Philippians 1:6 as he declared in confidence that "He who began a good work in [us] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus". God desires our sanctification. He started the process at the cross, guaranteed it when he rose from the grave, and will stop at nothing until we are refined in his likeness.
We need to reorient our perspectives and retrain our minds to see God in a truer light. We need to engrain this habit of praise and rejoicing in our daily lives so we reprogram the way we think of God. For me, this begins by daily rejoicing in the gospel and the relationship I now have with my God. It begins with letting go of falsities that God cannot cope with the problems of this world, handle the issues in my life, or know the deepest longings of my heart. He can, will, and does.
I'll end by quoting Tim Keller who writes this in his book Counterfeit Gods.
Rejoicing is a way of praising God until the heart is sweetened and rested, releasing its grip on anything else it thinks it needs.
My prayer for you and me is that we'll find our rest in the sweetness of Christ where all of our longings and needs are fully met. It is there we will find peace and there we find God.
Blessings.
