“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all have those moments. Something unexpected happens. The basement floods. An unexpected expense turns the budget upside down. A family member is suddenly hospitalized. A steady job becomes unsteady. Those are moments that instantly rock our world. We feel off-kilter, shaken, unsure of what to do and how to respond. It is easy to let emotions rule. Fear and anxiety can cloud our faith. So, what can we do? If I turn my eyes toward the problem and look away from Christ, I can get discouraged, disappointed, even angry at God. That’s not what I want! What about you?

In Paul’s letter to his friends in Philippi he says this, “Whatever happens…rejoice in the Lord...” (Phil. 3:1)  “Whateverhappens…” Isn’t that a phrase that about covers it? Whatever happens...when a relationship is strained, when a job ends, when a loved one dies, when a child goes astray, when enverthing seems to be going perfectly....whatever happens. Paul encourages his friends to rejoice in the Lord “whatever happens.” What’s happening in your life right now? Can you rejoice “whatever happens?” What does that look like anyway?

In Chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians he is beginning to conclude his epistle and he gets to  the heart of his message to his friends. He knows that they are experiencing a great deal of persecution as Christ-followers in a Roman city. Their friends and family don’t understand them. Their government doesn’t support them. It’s hard for them to even do business and make a living. False teachings are beginning to trickle in from over in Asia. They even are beginning to experience some tension within their own ranks. He wants to make sure that above all, whatever happens, they stay focused on Christ and rejoice in knowing Him. Paul has given them examples to follow, but now he appeals to their love for him and uses himself as an example. What a bold move! He believes that they will find the joy, peace, clarity and contentment they need as they let his priorities be a pattern for them. Wow!

Paul sets up his example by reminding them not to put their hope in their circumstances. He reminds them that their joy is not dependent on what happens. He wants them to remember Who their hope is in and Who is with them. I sure could use that reminder. What about you? 

Here’s the heart of what Paul is saying to his friends and to you and to me. 

Don’t be swayed by circumstances. What are you going through right now? We are all going through something! It might be a health challenge or a financial crisis. Perhaps you have a strained relationship with a spouse, a friend, a child. How much of your brain space is filled with that challenge? Are you including God as you process this circumstance?

It is so easy to just try to solve the problem, right? I might be thinking of all the things I would say to try to make it better, or ways to make more money to get out of debt, or what can I do to feel better faster as I am healing. You know what mean? Maybe you do the same thing. I am a fixer. My first reaction to difficult circumstances is to try to fix them, but you know what happens when you find you can’t fix something? You get discouraged and lose hope. Do you find yourself there, my friend?

Paul challenges the Philippians, and you and me, not to lose hope. Yes, it is a challenge. Hope doesn’t just happen. We have to choose to hope and we choose to hope when we choose to rejoice in the Lord and not let circumstances dictate our emotional responses. 

Choose joy.  What does it mean to rejoice? The dictionary says, “To feel or show gladness; to take delight in.”  How can I feel or show gladness when it seems like my life is falling apart? What can I take delight in when what I am living through is painful and tremendously challenging? These are exactly the kinds of circumstances that Paul’s friends were facing and he wasn’t being insensitive or telling them to ignore it. He was telling them, and you and me, not to let the circumstances determine their reaction. Choose to be glad and take delight in the One that doesn’t change, the One who is ultimately in control, the One who loves you no matter what. Choosing to rejoice means that I choose to focus on God’s goodness and His abounding love. Choosing to rejoice means that I choose to trust in the goodness and love of God. I can choose to remember truth. 

In the midst of some of the most painful and trying situations, I have had to remind myself of God’s goodness. To remind myself that He has ordained all my days and is not surprised by anything that I face. (Psalm 139:16) To remind myself that He is good and His love endures forever. (2 Chronicles 20:21; Psalm 89:1; Psalm 100:5; Psalm118:1; Psalm 136) To declare that I would lose hope unless I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 27:13 NKJV) In the most overwhelmingly dark moments of my life those truths were like a match lit in a cave. Small, but enough light to keep moving. And when the match burned out I had to light another one and choose to keep striking every match I could until I was out of the dark. 

It is a choice to hold onto truth when there seems to be no reason to do so, but that is how we choose to rejoice. We choose to focus on God's goodness and love. When we do that we find the strength to keep going with hope. That is how the joy of the Lord becomes our strength. (Neh. 

Make faith your anchor.  Tough times reveal what we look to for stability. If a strained relationship throws me into a tailspin, then maybe that relationship has taken a higher place in my life than it should. If a low balance in my bank account puts me on pins and needles, then perhaps I have relied on financial stability more than I need to. If a health challenge causes me to sink into self-pity, perhaps I have made my own comfort the source of my sense of strength. All these things are important and we need to steward them as well as we can, but relationships, money and health are all fragile and changeable. We need an anchor for life’s sudden squalls that doesn’t shift when the winds sweep in swiftly. We need an anchor for our souls that is firmly planted in eternity. (Hebrews 6:19) 

It’s time to check your moorings, my friend. Make sure you have chosen a source of security that is truly secure. “Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.” (Psalm 125:1 TLB )

Dear Friend, I never want to minimize anything that you are going through. Life is hard! Let’s just state that truth. Yet, in the midst of it all, I want you to thrive and I know you can. You really can rejoice “whatever happens.” Don’t be swayed by circumstances. Choose joy. Make faith your anchor. Whatever is happening in your life right now, you can find strength and encouragement as you choose to focus on the One who is our sure anchor. Whatever happens you CAN rejoice!

Key Thought: My hope is in Christ regardless of my circumstances. 

A Scripture to Consider: “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES Challenge: Consider your current circumstances. Take some time with God to evaluate your reactions. Ask yourself if you are choosing to rejoice and staying focused on Christ. Repent where needed and be honest with God about where you are right now. 

Prayer: Lord, if I am truly honest with You, then I will have to admit that sometimes my circumstances get the better of me. I lose track of Your goodness. I forget Your love. I get overwhelmed and discouraged. Help me to refocus and choose to rejoice. Whatever happens I know that You love me and will work things out for my good. I choose to trust. I choose to rejoice. Whatever happens. Amen.