Spiritual Depression – It’s Causes and Cures – Phil. 1:12-22
Sadness is an emotion we all experience in this world, and it’s always as a response to the loss of something we value. Depending on the severity of the loss, our sadness can manifest itself as disappointment — and then all the way up to despair or even depression when we’re dealing with things like the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the loss of a job.
In a deeper way, the degree of sadness we experience indicates what’s important to us in the moment. And in a practical way, Christians in the midst of sadness need a plan to deal with it. In the first chapter of Philippians, we find Paul encouraging the church members in the midst of sadness over his imprisonment — which can naturally lead to doubt, despair, and anger. But he told them there is much to be joyful about.
Yes, Paul wants to help them — and help all of us as well — get a change in perspective.
Verses 12 to 14: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Indeed Paul emphasized that “my imprisonment is for Christ.” It’s really the ultimate perspective of life itself for Christians, isn’t it? If our lives are “for Christ,” then the all the emotional bumps on the road are simply more opportunities to shine the light of the gospel. Paul even refuses to be bitter over fellow preachers of the gospel who “proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, Wow! That takes some strength of emotion and steadfast decision-making on Paul’s part — but it all falls under him finding reasons to rejoice. Can we choose to live for Christ in our difficult circumstance and find joy when our emotions could so easily derail us?
Lord, lead us to a place where we’re living completely for Christ and maximizing our joy.
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