How to Rejoice in the Lord in Every Season
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord when life is both joyful and fragile? Philippians 4:4 invites us to discover a deep, steady joy rooted not in circumstances, but in Christ Himself.
Dear Friends,
Last year, I had the joy of studying Philippians with two of our granddaughters and their mom. That study stirred memories of a women’s Bible study I taught on this beautiful letter over twenty years ago. As I dug into familiar passages again, the message carried me down memory lane, reminding me what it looks like to walk by faith when life is both full and fragile. Notes in the margins of my Bible bore witness to how personal and life-shaping Paul’s words had been for me. And once again, I was reminded that God’s Word is alive and designed with fresh insights in every season.
While these truths sustained me as a young woman and have continued to do so over many years, they seem to rise off the page with renewed clarity for this present season.
What follows is not a deep, verse-by-verse study of Philippians; space does not allow for that, but rather a gathering of treasures. Think of them as carefully chosen gems, each one inviting you to linger in this letter and pursue a deeper study on your own.
A Letter of Joy Written in Suffering
Many of us tend to think of Paul as a grim, stoic theologian — bold, prophetic, and at times severe. Yet when we slow down and stay awhile in Philippians, a different picture emerges. We encounter a tender-hearted, deeply compassionate man. Paul rejoices, and he grieves. He trusts God fully, yet he does not hide his struggles. He loves his friends deeply and longs to pour into their hearts everything he knows about his precious Savior. He wants them to experience the riches of Jesus’ love and be equipped to walk by faith in every circumstance.
While Paul’s love for his friends was a compelling reason for them to listen to his passionate words, they also knew Paul’s story, what he was before he met Jesus. Acts 7 tells us Paul, a young man, approved of the killing of Stephen, another young man who was guilty of proclaiming Jesus. Acts 8 describes Paul’s hatred for the message of Jesus as Messiah:
On that day (the day of Stephen’s death) a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul (later named Paul) began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 8:1-3 NIV
The Philippians knew Paul as completely transformed by Jesus. Yet, Paul did not hide his own humanity, as we will see in Philippians. In Acts 27, Luke describes a time when Paul feared so much that the Lord sent an angel to strengthen him.
For this very night, there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.” So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
Acts 27:23-25
Paul was a real man with a horrifying past. He understood shame and guilt and grief and the challenge of steadying emotions, trusting God when life turned upside down.
His letter takes on even more meaning when we know something of the one who wrote it.
Joy Is Found in a Person, Not Circumstances
Perhaps it was life itself — hardship, suffering, and the deepening knowledge of Christ — that softened Paul’s heart. Seeing this side of him makes his message more compelling and more accessible. Philippians is often called the Letter of Joy, and for good reason. The word joy, or a form of it, appears again and again throughout its 104 verses. Paul speaks of joy in suffering, joy in serving, joy in giving, and joy in believing. He mentions Jesus nearly fifty times, making it clear that the source of joy is not a change in circumstances, but a Person.
Paul paints an exquisite portrait of our Savior. He shows us that the pathway to joy is not found in striving harder or escaping difficulty, but in knowing Jesus more deeply and responding to His love with surrendered obedience.
Theology Lived Out in Real Life
What makes Paul’s message even more powerful is where he writes it — from prison. He does not know if he will ever be free again on this earth. Yet his words overflow with joy. His life, marked by hardship and faithful service, gives credibility to what he writes. This is not theory, it is truth tested in the crucible of suffering.
Paul demonstrates that theology is not meant to be discussed and then set aside. It is meant to be lived. It is a roadmap for reflecting Jesus in every part of life. His instructions are intensely practical. He reminds us that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within every believer. That power is not distant or abstract; it is active, able to transform us, no matter how deep our suffering or how entrenched our struggles.
I think Paul would smile at the familiar phrase many of us display in our homes: Choose Joy. He lived it. He writes, “I always pray with joy” (Philippians 1:4). He rejoices that Christ is proclaimed (Philippians 1:18). He urges the Philippians to complete his joy by being united in Christ (Philippians 2:2). He shares in their joy and calls them to rejoice with him (Philippians 2:17–18). He reminds them again, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1), and calls them his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). He rejoices in their care for him (Philippians 4:10).
Yet Paul never dismisses suffering or minimizes sorrow. Instead, he shows us how to live honestly in both. He teaches us how to pray with purpose, how to encourage one another with truth, how to stand firm when faith feels fragile, and how to pursue contentment. He is transparent enough to admit that contentment did not come naturally to him; he had to learn it.
That gives me hope. It means joy is not reserved for a select few. It is cultivated and learned in the presence of Christ, often in the very places we would rather escape.
Friends, whatever season you find yourself in, I am convinced Paul has treasures for you in this beautiful letter. Whether you are walking through joy or sorrow, clarity or confusion, strength or weariness, these words meet you there.
Paul writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). I often wonder if he sensed his time on earth was drawing to a close. Perhaps this is why his words feel so urgent, so intentional. He wanted to leave behind everything he had learned about Jesus, truths strong enough to steady the hearts of those he loved when he was no longer with them.
It is my prayer that these devotions reflect enough of Paul’s message to draw your heart more deeply toward our beloved Savior. May you not only read his words, but experience their power, learning, as he did, to rejoice in the Lord always.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
PRAYER
Oh Father, the more our knowledge of Jesus deepens, the more our love for Him and others grows and even abounds. May we never take for granted the treasure of Your Word and the beauty of soaking in it and asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to show us how we can reflect Your love to others. Amen.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.
