27) Strength in Suffering Series
I have a tree in my backyard that fills me with wonder every year when it blooms. You’d think I’d get used to seeing all the white blossoms spread across its limbs, but I never do. I never fully expect it to bloom so radiantly. It’s a surprise every year, and I delight in seeing it bloom afresh. Paul is delighted by the blooming of his Christian siblings. They are bearing fruit, and he is thrilled to see it. What they did in sending Epaphroditus showed they were thinking about him. They wanted to do something for Paul in his tribulation, and that desire bloomed into action.
“But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me;wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.”
Philippians 4:10
Paul sees their efforts to succor him in his time of need. Just the thought of what they are trying to do is like seeing the blossoms growing on a tree. He is delighted to see the signs of life and love in these Christians because he knows they are struggling to stay strong in their walk with Jesus.
This delight isn’t about his need; his delight is in their unified purpose of showing love to him. Their decision to express support and care for him is a symptom of their developing, blossoming faith. Paul knows how difficult it is to press against obstacles that stop us from keeping in touch with each other. A man who is imprisoned by Caesar is not easily reached; those Roman guards would check every visitor to Paul’s house. It would be a chore to journey to him, and it would be equally difficult to find ways to bring comfort to him in his situation. When the Philippian Christians sent Epaphroditus to aid Paul, they were expressing their unity with him in the faith. That meant so much!
Notice, too, that Paul mentions that he knew they were thinking about him but “lacked opportunity.” This is something we need to consider as Christians, both from Paul’s side (the one being served) and from the Philippians’ side (the one serving). Paul makes it clear that he knows there are times when our Christian siblings are not able to do something for our situation. Maybe your sister doesn’t know what you’re going through. If she does know your situation, she may not know how to help. She may have difficulty aiding you because of her own circumstances. Paul knows that God is the one delivering the service through the hands of others, so he knows that needs are filled in God’s time. When someone is suffering, there is a tendency to blame people in the congregation because they are not “helping.” They “don’t care.” They “have forgotten about me.” Has God forgotten about you? Paul’s attitude is very different here. He patiently waits to receive the gift of his Philippian brothers and sisters. He does not question their love for him. Rather, he sees their work is completely reliant on what God decides. God opens the door for them to reach out to Paul. When you are the one looking for the opportunity to serve, you may find out later about some way you could have helped someone. You missed the memo. For whatever reason, you were unaware of the need. If God wants to use your hands, be prepared to let Him by taking the opportunities you can when they come to you. If God doesn’t use your hands, then you need to accept that, too. God has the control, and your efforts are based only on what you know to do in the present. For the good of your mental wellbeing, stay in the present to serve. Don’t tear down your self-worth by feeling guilt for what you didn’t do in the past.
You have so many reasons to rejoice in your life with Christ, dear sister! And a Christian who reaches out to tell you they care is one of many reasons to rejoice. You get to see them bloom and grow in the Lord when they do that. You are blooming and growing in the Lord when you take the time to show a fellow laborer that you are thinking about what they are going through.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.”
Philippians 4:11
Paul reveals that the mind of a person who reflects on Christ’s joys can learn to be content. Contentment doesn’t come from withdrawing from society. Contentment is not found in self-sufficiency. Contentment is found in faith that God will supply what you lack. He often supplies for your need through His loving children. Here, Paul received the gift of the Philippians. Their desire to aid him gave him joy. He wants them to feel that joy, too. He doesn’t want them to sully that good feeling with sadness or regret because Epaphroditus became sick. Paul knows what physical need feels like, and he’s also experienced emotional need. He knows there is a greater need: the spiritual need of the soul. Paul’s soul has been filled full with life, and he has gradually learned to rest in God’s promises. He knows from these joyful moments when his siblings in Christ reach out to him that God is behind this. God is behind Paul. God is behind the Christians at Philippi. He is supporting His children. He will fill all of Paul’s other needs, too. Paul can rely on His Father to be there at the very moment He is needed most.
“I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.”
Philippians 4:12
A sufferer cannot learn to trust in God unless she faces situations that teach her to trust in Him. Those situations have to be situations of want. A trial is a time when the sufferer goes without something and learns that she can still lean on God without that missing piece in her life. She can still be alive in Christ and look forward to a future without any more suffering.
There are numerous suffering souls who distance themselves from the people they love because close relationships can be too painful at times. Later, sufferers will become angry at others for not being there for them. “I didn’t get a single call!” “Do they even care about me?” They blame their hurting and suffering on the saints who are meeting and worshiping without them. People have left congregations angry with members whom they felt neglected them. The devil is playing the isolation card in their lives. That hurt that is being directed toward the church is really coming from a sense of longing. They are longing for relationships again. They’ve been alone too long, and they’ve lost connection with the people they enjoyed being with before the isolation. Even while they need that relationship with their brothers and sisters in Christ, they push that relationship away because it wasn’t what they wanted it to be when they wanted it to be there. Consider, dear sister, that you are not just pushing away the church when you decide your brothers and sisters don’t care, and when you leave a congregation without reconciling your anger. You are punishing yourself and listening to the Adversary’s lies. If you are hunting for reasons to blame someone, you will always find that proof. Yes, you’ve been neglected; your needs haven’t been met by the human beings around you. No one will ever fill all your needs. Not your best friend, not your husband, and not your children. No one but God. So, give the people you love the benefit of the doubt. Instead of looking to them, go to your Heavenly Father and beg Him for help. He will answer. It may not be in the way you expect, so let Him care for you in His way. It is from Him that contentment flows. You have God; what He gives is plenty.
Jesus endured humiliation when he was crucified. The mere fact that He was punished in the most painful and shameful way caused onlookers to want to believe He had committed a terrible crime. Nobody wants to believe their government and leadership are unjust and corrupt when faced with a public display of punishment. Those who knew injustice was occurring were too afraid to speak against the abuse happening to Christ. Jesus was nailed to the cross, and He hung there, beaten and silent. Who had the power to stop this horrible wrongdoing of the Roman and Jewish leaders? No one but God. Jesus explained this to Pilate (John 19:11). Jesus suffered the lowest humiliation of mankind. This is what the ultimate abasement is. It is lowering of someone’s worth, either in their own eyes or the eyes of others. Paul had experienced being treated as worthless, and Paul had experienced being treated like a god (Acts 14:11-12). Neither of these caused Paul to lose sight of his true value. Paul had experienced great need, and he had experienced overflowing fullness. He didn’t look to himself or his circumstances to keep him grounded. Instead, he relied on his Heavenly Father to make him strong.
“I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13
Paul puts it all in God’s hands in this statement. This isn’t a boast; this is his trust in God. The word for “do” that Paul uses means to be strong and to prevail. When he speaks of God strengthening him, his word for strengthen is derived from the Greek word, dynamoo, meaning “power.” He is strong through God’s power. Just as God is the source of life, He is the source of all strength. Your strength comes directly from God. He is the One to whom you gave back your life, heart and soul. And He gives His strength to you, Christian sister, to lift you up. You may have terrible times of lowness, and you may have times of suffering. It may come from sickness, from inner mental or emotional unrest, or it may come from others outside of you. Your Father will give you the strength to endure all things because He loves you. You are of great, great value to Him.
Next, Paul will teach these Christians about their place beside him in his work.