"Glass Half Full"

EPISODE 47

Look Positively at Trials

Watch

Listen

Read

Are you a "glass half full" kind of person? Or do you gravitate toward a "glass half empty" approach?

The apostle Paul wrote one of the great "glass half full" letters to the Christians in Philippi. But if you stop and think about the circumstances surrounding it, you might wonder why he's so optimistic. He's in prison, and the Phillippians are facing persecution because of their faith. So, why does he write with such a positive outlook?

"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" (Phil. 1:12-14).

The Opposition

After a series of mock trials and death threats from the Jews, Paul becomes a Roman prisoner. Is his work over? Not at all — he saw a great opportunity in opposition. And when we're faced with trials today, God can still make our work a success. As the Jewish teacher Gamaliel said, "... if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them." (Acts 5:38-39). Don't be discouraged when you face difficulty. God is still at work in you, even when the glass seems almost empty.

The Advancement

Sure, Paul couldn’t visit those churches he helped establish. But he found a new audience to present the gospel. He looked for new ways to teach, and the good news of Christ spread as a result. Wherever you are in life, there's always more work to do. While you may not be able to serve Christ in the same ways you used to, there are ways you can work for him today. Don't get too attached to the past. Consider how to serve the Lord today!

The Boldness

It would be natural to view Paul's imprisonment as a negative situation. But Paul says it wasn't negative at all. Rather than causing fear among the brotherhood, it created confidence and boldness! It's never a bad thing to suffer for Christ's sake. And as his ambassadors in this world, we should expect to be rejected like our King (John 15:18-21; Eph. 6:18-20). But we can confidently bear up in trial, knowing that if we endure, there's a reward waiting for us in the end (Heb. 10:32-36).

May we all develop an outlook like Paul to remain positive during our struggles today!