Joy Even in Chains

Jul 24

Chip Ingram

2 min read ⭑

Who is the most joyful person you know? Stop — don’t keep on reading. I want you to think about the most joyful person you know. How do you feel when you’re around them?

two people walking — Agustín Farías; DEATHTOSTOCK

In the providence of God, I was to teach Philippians 1 with the title “I Choose Joy” to a group of Christians who had weathered the pain of divisions, family struggles, cancer, wayward children, depression and a culture that seemed to become more and more anti-Christian overnight. If there was ever a time to help people understand and experience God’s joy in adversity, this was it. I could almost hear Mr. Phelps of “Mission: Impossible” speaking to me from the recorder that will self-destruct in thirty seconds, saying, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help this group grasp that joy isn’t something that comes and goes depending on our circumstances or relationships — but in fact, it is a choice that we make every day.”

So, I began by giving them the context of this passage. The apostle Paul was in prison writing this letter. He was awaiting execution, or acquittal — he had no idea which it would be. He had been abandoned by close friends, betrayed by fellow Christians who used his imprisonment to criticize him and promote themselves, and was enduring the conditions of a first-century prison.

In this short chapter, Paul gives us his secret of joy in any and every circumstance. He helps us understand that it’s a matter of focus, a matter of purpose, a matter of hope and a matter of expectations.

“My prayer is that when someone who knows you is asked, ‘Who is the most joyful person that you know?’ their answer would be you.”

I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but I do know the “Joy Quotient” among fellow followers of Jesus has taken a big hit. My prayer for you is that this message will bring about a renaissance not just in your emotions, but in your focus, in your attitude, and in your relationships with the Lord and others.

Joy isn’t just possible, it’s commanded: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men” (Phil. 4:4,5, NASB).

When I began teaching this series, I had a high round table off to my left with a huge pitcher of water on top of it. I had the pitcher filled exactly to the middle of its capacity. Before opening the text, I said in a lighthearted manner, “How many people think this pitcher is half full?” Lots of hands went up. Then I said, “How many of you think this pitcher is half empty?” And a lot of hands went up. “Guess what?” I said, smiling. “You’re both right!”

Certain things happen in life that we have no control over. Many of those things are painful and disappointing. How we look at them will make all the difference in the world. How we process them will either make or break us, often deeply impacting those around us.

May God, in his grace, allow you and me to learn from our brother the apostle Paul how to “choose joy” regardless of what’s happening around us or to us.

My prayer is that when someone who knows you is asked, “Who is the most joyful person that you know?” their answer would be you.

Chip Ingram’s passion is to help Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, coach and teacher for 25 years, Chip has helped people around the world break out of spiritual ruts to live out God’s purpose for their lives. He’s the former senior pastor of Venture Christian Church in Silicon Valley, California, and the current CEO and Founder of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four children and nine grandchildren.