This is how we do

We read chapter four of the book of Philippians today for our early morning devotion, and these are some of my reflections:

Suffering is real

That is a plain fact. Everyone of us experience sufferings of many kinds. Sufferings in the form of the physical, emotional, material, and spiritual. We experience lack, we experience frustrations, we experience testings, we experience hunger. Since every one is living in this unpredictable world, no one is exempted. Not even the apostle Paul was spared from the sufferings of his day. After encountering Jesus on the way to Damascus one day and after he has surrendered all claim to himself and gave all to his God, he realized that it was not actually easy. Life in Christ doesn't mean we go through life scot-free. But we are expected to live a life worry-free, and every step of the way, to live by faith and not by sight.

Our response

We should stand firmly on God's promises. In times of suffering, trusting and being confident that something good will turn-out can actually be harder than is imagined. But the Word of God repeatedly assures us that our confidence is in Him who is before all things and who holds all things together. So that no matter how and what happens, we can expect God to come through. Because He is able. That's why for Paul, in verse 13, has this singular conclusion: that in anything and everything, no matter the situation, no matter how hard the journey, no matter how troublesome life can get, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." He can say that with credibility because he is a person who's been there in the worst of his life, yet never failed to see Christ coming through it all. How about you? Where do you see Christ in all this?

Our source

It's Jesus alone. Not our own declining strength, not our own limited understanding, not our own temporal resources. It's Jesus alone who can supply us with the necessary faith and strength to go through with life. It's Jesus alone who can turn our worst sufferings into celebration! As a warrior, my journey with the King is the most fulfilling. All else are shadows compare to this. When we live for the King... He will meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. (v.19)