My two-year-old niece Lucy has recently begun asking people in the cutest way, “What are you doing?” at the most opportune moments. It is hilarious! It is, no doubt, a good question that we still ask as adults. In fact, some of us adults want to ask this question to God in the middle of our discouragement. When we find ourselves disappointed by our life’s circumstances, we often want to ask God what He is doing and how He is working. Whether we see it or not, we can be confident that He is still, indeed, working and moving even when we feel discouraged.
The apostle Paul clearly saw how God was working when he wrote the book of Philippians. He was currently in prison for spreading the message of Christ all around him. Many of us would shut down and have a pity party as a result of these circumstances, but Paul did not. He kept his focus on Christ and making Him known to the rest of the world. That is why he wrote to his readers in Philippians 1, “Because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear” (verse 14). Paul understood that God was working amidst his imprisonment. He saw that his imprisonment gave other believers the boldness to share the name of Christ with everyone around them. Because Paul recognized the ways that God was working in the midst of his imprisonment, so he held on to his hope and faith even while he was in the middle of prison.
God was working in the middle of Paul’s imprisonment to spread His name, and He is still working in your life today, even when you do not see it. You can be confident in your discouragement that God is not silent or unengaged. He is working. Will you trust Him today amidst your disappointments?
What discouragement are you holding on to today? Write down the disappointment you are carrying. Then, think about how God has been working in your life in the middle of your disappointment. Write down a list of ways God is currently working, even as you are facing disappointment. When you are finished, pray. Thank God for how He has been working in your life in the midst of your disappointment. Ask Him to help you trust Him to continue to work.
14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
