Read Time 3 Minutes
How is your pain level today on a scale of 1 to 10?
Physical? (headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, disease, and disorders)
Mental? (work stress, financial stress, daily frustrations)
Emotional? (heartaches, relationships, rejection, confusion)
Most likely, you would answer these questions with your specific situation in mind whether it be physical, mental, or emotional distress…or all three!
What if you could place a stamp over each of your painful circumstances with the word…Joy Joy Joy?
There is an actual “Secret to Life”, and the Apostle Paul knew it well! He spent his later life; however, NOT trying to keep the secret. Instead, he spent his time proclaiming the secret of life, and more importantly by experientially living it…even to death!
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Here in this verse is the simple secret…the forever focus…Live for Christ!
Another example from Paul’s life that demonstrated his “forever focus” is found in Philippians 4:12-13, “ I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
If discouragement is clouding my mind and my pain level is rising, it can become tempting, even easy, to quickly get my mind off the forever focus…Christ! Yet, it is He that provides all the strength and even all the joy I need to live victoriously in whatever situation I find myself. It is He that provides the peace and contentment no matter what!
In these moments of struggling with circumstances that sometimes begin to overwhelm, I am learning to keep it simple. I can quickly redirect my mind by simply remembering the focus…Live for Christ! I can ask myself a simple question…What can I do for Him right now? Something about asking this question immediately makes the self-pity, self-absorption thinking take a 180 degree turn!
When asking, “What can I do for Christ right now?”, the answer can be as simple as described in Matthew 22: 37-39…
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
I can simply began praising God and rejoicing in my forever future with Him. I can think to myself, is there someone I can show love to…maybe a text or a phone call of encouragement. Loving God and loving others can certainly begin to cover the pain with joy!
Pain does not always go away, but when we live for Christ, we can conquer it with His strength, power, and love. Keeping it that simple and keeping the “forever focus” is a game changer!
The “Secret to Life” is available to all who want it, but not all will partake. It is free to everyone, but it will cost you everything! It will cost you yourself! You give up self and you live for Christ! Something amazing happens when you do this…you replace your selfishness, your self-pity, your worries and fears with the life-giving Life of Jesus Christ! Then, you can do all things through Him who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13)
When you feel it is hard to let go of your pain, worries, and problems…just remember what Christ gave for each one of us. He gave Himself by dying on the cross for each of us. When you ask Jesus into your heart; then, your life truly begins! You don’t have to carry the burdens anymore!
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17
Why is it so hard for even Christ followers to keep it simple and live life the way that Paul did? We get bogged down in our pain, losses, and confusion. When the the circumstances seem hard to bear, step back and remember to keep it simple. Live for Christ! Follow Paul’s example…
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8
And remember to…
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18