Praying with Joy

The apostle Paul was a fearless person. How did he find such confidence and joy in the midst of difficulty, uncertainty, and opposition? And how can we find the same in the time in which we are living?

First of all, when you are hurting for others’ pain, God will bring you joy! Many people today are hurting because of something — a lost job; a confused or defeated spouse; a lingering illness; a loved one struggling with poverty.

We read in Philippians 1:1: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.” Paul was saying, “I’m a slave, totally sold out. Christ is my all.” And then he goes on to address a larger group: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.”

I like this because just ten years prior, he had started the church in Philippi with just a jailer, a woman and a slave girl. Now the church had elders and deacons and overseers. It had structure and order and vitality!  

And then he says in verse 2, “Grace to you and peace from God.” Here he is setting the tone for us in the midst of our trials to cause us to rely on grace, and the peace that comes from only one source, God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy” (1:3-4).

I like that he says, “I remember you all.” Sometimes we remember only some, right? Sometimes we don’t want to pray for our enemies, those who have hurt us or abused us — difficult people in the church or in our family. But Paul says, “I pray for all of you and whenever I pray, I pray with joy.”