Paul and the Philippians

God is bigger than I realize. Paul highlights God’s greatness in this epistle as he is writing from prison facing isolation, depression, and “the loss of all things” (Phil. 3:8). I can identify with him, having gone through a divorce and having to deal with the loss and loneliness. The tendency in these situations is to begin to doubt God’s goodness, provision, love, and presence; to be anxious and uncertain regarding the future, and to do everything possibly to regain control and autonomy in the situation. These desires spring up from a heart that is corrupted by self-service, vanity, and self-glory as an “enem[y] of the cross of Christ” (2:21; 3:18ff). Paul also explains how easy depending on self can be, and how he, if anyone, had reason to boast in himself (3:4-7). Paul admits he had to learn how “both to abound and to suffer need” (4:12). Becoming self-dependent is easy recourse for me in my life, especially in times of loneliness, because it gives me a sense of control, which works to overcome the fears of being alone. However, this independence drives me far from God, who rather invites me to flee to Him who has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:2); I end up missing out on what I truly need and desire.

But God never gives up on me, and promises that “He who has begun a good work in [me] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6). Paul knew of this faithfulness of God. He was given to see, as I am more and more, that these things that happen turn out “for the furtherance of the gospel” (1:12). Knowing this faithfulness, and understanding that even in loneliness “God is at hand” (4:5), I am compelled (as Paul) to “forget[] those things which are behind and [to reach] forward to those things which are ahead” (3:13) setting my eyes on he reward He promises (3:14). I can trust in this great God, proclaiming with Paul in doxological praise “my God shall supply all [my] need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (4:19)!