Christians can never be hopeless or in despair because they always have God on their side for help. But in reality, most Christians have a tendency to doubt God’s presence and His goodness in their life, which leads them to be in despair. In this passage, we see how God’s providence brings Christians out of difficult and desperate situations.
We don’t often hear people talking about being content today. When we do, it’s often in terms of what would be ideal rather than characteristic of our lives. In this passage, Paul gives an explanation of how he has labored for contentment in Christ and in the worst of circumstances he can have joy, since his circumstances could never give him the fulfillment he seeks anyway, he seeks to be content in the person of Jesus Christ.
Christian life is not devoid of suffering. It is not always filled with happiness. Christian life involves suffering because of the sin we carry with us, and also the sin and evil we see around us. Sometimes, this reality of suffering and hardship can be daunting. But this is where a great comfort lies, because it is God who enables us to persevere, assuring us that our suffering is momentary. In this passage, we learn how to endure suffering with eternity in mind.
Crisis and suffering show character. In the Jesus’s hour of trial, He prophesied that all of His disciples will betray him when their lives are at stake. He did not waver when his life was at stake. In this sermon, you’ll see how Jesus faces his hour of trial with patience and Joy because of His infinite love for his sheep and how that becomes a model for us to face trial and suffering having received the forgiveness for betraying Him, our Savior.