Margie and I just spent a week in Key West with our granddaughters. And while being away from the stress of our everyday lives, I found myself creating different kinds of stress many times on our “vacation.” What to do? Where to eat? Why are the girls crying? In a beautiful setting, I was missing the joy in many moments.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was not sitting on a beach with the sun shining and life going exactly as planned. He was in prison. He was chained. And yet, Philippians is often called “the letter of joy.” Over and over again, Paul points to a joy that isn’t rooted in circumstances, but in Jesus.
In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” That’s reminding us that joy doesn’t come from where we are right now, but from knowing where God is taking us. Our lives are a journey, and in Christ, we walk with the assurance that He is at work in us, guiding us, and shaping us along the way.
I’m beginning a new series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. As we start this series, let’s set our eyes not on what is around us, but on who is within us. True joy is not found in a destination like the beach, or in everything working out perfectly (those pesky rain showers and the crazy people at the pool) — it’s found in walking daily with Jesus, trusting His faithfulness, and living in the hope of His promises.