Embrace Your No-Lose Situation

From The Joy Challenge by Randy Frazee on YouVersion

Philippians 1:18-26 ESV – What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

As we’ve already discussed, the apostle Paul suffered a great deal for the cause of Christ—but he chose to rejoice in his circumstances and look for the opportunities his chains afforded him. This fourth principle—that of embracing our no-lose situations—builds upon that outlook by focusing on the faith we have in an eternal life in heaven.

Luke 17:33 ESV – Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

Though Paul chose to dwell on his mission of spreading the gospel of Christ, he could have let himself worry about the future too. After all, he had a lot of time on his hands in prison! What better way to pass the hours than to imagine all of the horrible things that could’ve been awaiting him? More pain, more persecution, and perhaps a painful death…He could have spent his energy imagining any of these scenarios. But instead, Paul chose a different route. He chose to think about the end goal—eternal life with the Father—instead. This mindset drove his thinking and his actions. And it also brought him joy.

Whether this experience left him dead or alive, it made no difference to Paul, as long as his mission to exalt Christ was accomplished. And here was the secret sauce of Paul’s joy in this terrible, life-threatening scenario. He saw that he was in a no-lose situation. If Nero cut off his head or if he lived and got to return to Philippi and give those wonderful people a big bear hug, it didn’t matter. If he died, he was released from his agony. If he lived, he could spread the gospel and live with purpose for a bit longer. Either way, Paul won. This perspective filled Paul with joy and gave him endurance for the road ahead.

And Paul wasn’t the only one who persevered through pain, agony and separation. Hebrews 11:36-40 ESV – Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Eventually, no matter what happened to him, Paul would be with Jesus. He was in a no-lose situation, and this was cause for joy, not fear. Paul was not falling down but falling up—a big difference!

Reflect: How does focusing on the end goal of our faith—an eternal rest with the Father—help us maintain a joyful perspective on our circumstances? How might you incorporate this thought habit into your daily life?

Pray: Dear God, thank you for the eternal life you have offered us through your Son, Jesus Christ. May I never lose sight of my mission or the goal you have set before me. Amen.