Finding Encouragement in God’s Joyful Plan for Your Life
To a church in conflict the Apostle Paul writes in
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.” That is a startling thing to say to people in
disagreement. It is a shocking thing to
say in general. Really? Rejoice always?
I don't think that Paul means you just put a happy face on situations
of bitter conflict. It means that we should
understand what is so much more real, deeper underneath the surface of the
division. Underneath the turmoil of this
life is the goodness of God working things to a wonderful and glorious
conclusion (see Romans 8:28).
God's goal is our joy!
The implications of this for us are profoundly encouraging. God has a plan for you. There is a reason that He brought you into
existence. He is taking you
somewhere. He has a destination in sight
for you. And the place to which He is
taking you is: eternal joy!
For this reason, God brought you into being that you might
have joy. Not mere happiness. Not just an elated feeling like a puppy given
a treat. It is a reasoned joy. It is a joy that must go through adversity so
that the difference between hardship and sorrow and true lasting joy can be fully
appreciated.
This is why you were brought into existence, that you might
learn the goodness of God and through the ups and downs of the wearying changes and chances of this life to land in a place of perpetual joy.
The Westminster Catechism expresses it well. What is the chief end of humanity? “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Enjoying God means we understand Him, that we
come to perceive the deep truth of Who He is -- that He is Loving and
Good. It means we know the burdens of
life lived apart from God – that is the mess of a life lived focused not on
God, but on self.
This is such a simple yet profound, counterintuitive truth
that when we fix our focus on ourselves, we become ruined; we miss so much
blessing; we become lost. But when we
fix our focus on our Creator and seek to please Him and glorify Him, we gain
everything. As Jesus said, “The one who
would save his life will lose it, but the one who will lose his life for Jesus'
sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
So, when you find yourself wearied and burdened by conflict,
disunity, and bitterness, remember that such things are not from God. He has a different plan for you... And it is
joy! Can you receive that astounding
word for you? God's plan for you is
eternal joy! Rejoice in knowing God's
goodness and that He has a plan for your life: perpetual harmony with other
believers who have been so transformed as to be able to have an increased
capacity to understand more profoundly the love of God so that they might
rejoice in Him forever!
This is an excerpt from my Sunday sermon from October 11, 2026 on Philippians
4. You can view the entire sermon on the
St. Luke’s Gladstone Facebook page or YouTube channel.
