-the philippian believers (perhaps on the surface at least) were facing a serious joy stealer. their teacher, mentor and friend was in prison, in chains and facing possible execution for following Jesus. they could have been tempted to give in to discouragement because of this. they could have been sad for paul and because of his circumstances. they could have decided that his was a most unpleasant and undesirable circumstance, one which was staring them in the face as well were they to continue to follow Christ.
-to this paul gives an immediate, ‘no way!’ not only does paul see things as an opportunity for him to be rejoicing, not only is his joy overflowing, but he gives the philippians a double imperative for them to be entering in and experiencing the same. paul wants them to let God fill them to overflowing with indescribable joy that they will not be able to contain and which will eventually even flow back to him. paul leads them quickly away from the temptation to be disheartened by the adversity he is facing, and urges them on to live into the full experience of joy that only Jesus gives and which in no way depends on anyone’s circumstances. joy. peace. hope. even and especially in the midst of affliction and brokenness. these are the hallmarks of the people who truly follow Jesus. it would be very natural to be upset and discouraged that you were put in prison for being a Christian, or even just when life gets you down - maybe when your house or your stuff or your body or your relationship (or someone else’s) breaks down. or when your work and your life and even your ministry is hard. when people don’t respond the way you think they should or want them to. when following Jesus isn’t always easy or a bed of roses. thorns hurt - that’s very natural. but something supernatural is here. something supernatural is sown in the heart and soul of every person who trusts in Jesus. it is not natural, it is not normal, it is beyond normal, it is beyond explanation, it is beyond description. this is what all these New Testament writers experienced and are talking about. this is what Christ Jesus Himself was talking about. the world can’t give it. the world doesn’t have it. the world doesn’t get it.
-and the Word of God does describe a special experience of joy for those suffer specifically for the sake of Jesus. suffering is common to all who inhabit our broken planet, but genuine Christ-followers have a guarantee of being specifically hated and mistreated because of their association with Jesus (mt 24.9, lk 6.22, jn 15.18-19, 1jn 3.13). but not only that, such persecution presents a divinely-appointed opportunity for a peculiar experience of inexplicable indescribable joy (mt 5.10-12, 1pet 4.12-16, 1pet 1.6, jam 1.2, jam 1.12, cf act 5.41, act 16.25).
-we’re not talking about living in a rosy-eyed state of denial about the hardships and brokenness of this life. Scripture is likewise full of enjoinders to enter in to the realities and the tragedies and the hardship that life brings into our lives and the lives of those around us (rom 12.15, 1cor 12.26, eccl 3.4). there is indeed a time to cry, and yet even grief can be supplanted by God’s inexpressible joy as He brings perspective and reminds us how He is truly good and is faithfully working even the hardest of situations for good (rom 8.28, ps 30.5, 2cor 6.10).
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