Paul’s God ordained instructions for overcoming adversity and returning to peace and rest:

The Christian’s life, just as all people, can be messy and regularly comes with pop-up challenges or brush fires. These can be as simple as spilling your coffee on your work papers to being notified your husband or that your spouse has just had a car crash. Sometimes we are bombarded and have many unmanaged brush fires going on all around us.

We the need to take time to step back to reflect and deal with issues as they arise. Otherwise, they can have a cumulative impact, and become debilitating, devastating our spiritual life as we become overwhelmed by the problems we encounter in this world. If we allow this, we will become a victim to Satan’s policy of evil by reacting unwisely.

There is hope in the face of such adversity. God is always with us and to be ‘our all in all’ with His power and wisdom as our resource. Christ “the Word” and His Holy “Spirit of life” within us enables us to access everything we need.

When available, fellowship with the saints is also a strategic resource and support. These can be instrumental in empowering us to ‘put out the fires of life,’ hosing them down with “the living water” of the Word.

Yes, God is our sufficiency, but we today are to take responsibility to think about and then apply the doctrine we know in each situation. That’s why we regularly read and study the Word rightly divided along with prayer and meditation. This gives us the needed support to stand fast while negotiating the challenging trials of life.

Let us take a brief look at Paul’s Philippians 4 instruction for us, teaching us how to stand fast when in the midst of great difficulties, and give thanks.

1. Moderation (vs 5): Not doing things to excess but finding balance.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5 (KJV)

2. Prayer (vs. 6-7): Not caught up in the cares of this world, being thankful to God to gain His peace.

⁶ Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)

3. Focus on the above (vs 8-9): Dwell on spiritual things, meditate on them through the day, and then apply them in life situations. This enables the God of peace to be with you in the circumstances.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me [Paul], do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV)

4. Contentment (vs. 11-12): Learn to gain peace under stress and even be able to rejoice.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:11-12 (KJV)

5. Know Your Strength and Resources (vs. 13,19): We can “do all things through Christ which strengtheneth” us and “God shall supply all” our spiritual needs. We’re then able to walk by faith, trusting through life.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

Take time to look deeper into this chapter to make it your own and fully acquire Paul’s
instruction. As you learn to apply this process, you can mature in faith and trust God to
put out the pop-up fires in life as you yield and focus above.

His grace is sufficient. Press toward “the mark of the high calling”! After applying this process for a while… purpose to teach to others serious believers.

• Portions Adapted from Deborah and Brian Johnson