How often do the circumstances of life determine the quality of our worship? When things are going well, we find it easy to offer thanks to God. When times are difficult, worship can be a struggle (to say the least!) We wonder: "How can I worship God when my life is so hard?"
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians helps us answer this question. His physical situation could not be much worse. He is locked in chains because of his testimony to Christ (1:12-13). Yet Paul fills his letter with worship, even with rejoicing (1:4; 2:17; 4:10). How is this possible? How can one who is suffering nevertheless "rejoice in the Lord"?
In part, Paul rejoices because of his "partnership in the gospel" with the Philippian church. This congregation not only responded to Paul's preaching with faith but also joined in his evangelistic enterprise (1:3-5 + 4:15). Furthermore, Paul exults because he knows that God will complete the " good work" He has begun among the Philippians (1:6). On the day when Christ returns, they will be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God" (1:11). Accordingly, Paul is able to rejoice in suffering because he looks ahead to the glorious day of Christ. We too can worship with gladness when we lift our eyes above our momentary afflictions and focus on the innumerable blessings of eternity.
When we suffer, the vision of Christ's ultimate victory and glory sustains us and fills us with gladness. After urging the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, Paul invites them to think in new ways. Though Paul would not advise us to deny the reality of our pain, neither would he support undue fixation upon earthly struggles. Instead, we should turn our attention to things that are true, noble, right, etc. In other words, we should occupy our minds with God and with His good gifts. We are enabled to worship, no matter what our circumstances, when we remember all that God has given to us.
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