Life has a way of sticking us in situations that we didn’t choose, a season you don’t want it circumstances we have no control over. Maybe you’ve wondered, “God, what good can come from this?”
The Apostle Paul was a prisoner because he preached the gospel of Jesus. Yet, Paul was still took the time to write a letter to the Philippians thanking them for sending him gifts and Epaphroditus (a delegate from the Philippians church to encourage Paul). Paul wasn’t writing from a mountain top or beachside retreat -he was writing from a prison in Rome. Yet his words overflowed with joy, gratitude, and confidence in God’s purpose.
In Philippians 1:12-19, Paul would be under Roman guard 24 hours a day, and was permitted visitors in which Paul would teach the gospel of Jesus. It’s no doubt the guards heard the gospel directly and indirectly. I’m sure Paul’s time in prison emboldened many believers to speak out about Jesus. And some had impure motives that were intended to make Paul’s prison time more painful, but Paul didn’t let this discourage him. Instead, he rejoiced the message of Jesus was being preached. Paul remained confident that the prayers and the comfort of the Holy Spirit would deliver him from chains.
Instead of finding himself confined as a prisoner, Paul used his hardship to advance the gospel of Jesus. Paul’s imprisonment served as an illustration of the words of Jesus. “Unless a kernel of wheat dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). Paul did not die, but his imprisonment sparked a boldness and courage to speak God’s message. Paul’s letters were not just preaching, it was considered public proclamation. The majority of people spoke about Jesus as they went about their day.
Paul does not give us specifics about who he is preaching to, but one thought is that Paul aimed to glorify Christ Jesus and get people to follow Him. Perhaps, Paul’s critics aimed to promote themselves and win a following of their own. Instead of asking “Have you trusted Jesus? They asked “Whose side are you on ours or Paul’s? There’s a similar theory that some believers in Rome had developed a rivalry and jealousy towards Paul. Yet Paul chose to see and hear the silver lining -that Jesus’s name was being amplified.
A life rooted in Jesus can see hardships in a different light.
Paul probably thinks and sees differently because he sees life through the mind of Christ Jesus. We all have the Spirit of Christ Jesus -the Holy Spirit, at our salvation. But like every believer it had to grow, and we have to intentionally put this way of life at the forefront of our daily lives, especially in challenging times.
Paul says in Colossisns 3:2-4 “Set your mind on the things that are above, not the things that are of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
A heavenly perspective redeem obstacles into opportunities.
God sometimes uses a strange tools to promote and advance His Word. The same God who used Moses rod, Gideon’s pitchers, and David’s sling, used Paul’s chains. Little did the Roman’s realize that the chains they fixed to his wrist was release Paul instead of binding him. Paul did not complain about his chains, instead he consecrated them to God and ask God to use them..
The secret to redeeming Paul’s chains, as tools was having the eternal, heavenly mindset and perspective. Paul did not find his joy in ideal circumstances, he found his joy in winning others to Christ. And if his circumstances promoted the gospel, that was all that mattered.
What if we thought and looked at our difficult hardships, long seasons, every day circumstances, or even inconveniences, as opportunities to grow in the discipline of a heavenly perspective, and glorify God? What if a workplace wasn’t a prison but a platform to share the joy and goodness of God? What if that delay was God‘s protection? What if it changed your plans was moving you into a divine opportunity to care for or minister to someone? Learn to see the heavenly perspective and redeem those opportunities.
When we keep a heavenly perspective, we can see the silver lining, the bright side, and the possibility of the situation turning into good, or the truth that God is working. I’ll be honest I have days where I don’t see redeemable opportunities, the silver lining, or the bright side.
Paul was uncertain of his future on earth, but he knew that he would never be ashamed of how he lived. He was not completely certain what was going to happen next, but he never faltered between being with Christ Jesus and continuing to live to help people grow in their faith. Paul believed he would remain alive to visit again and give them even more of a reason to boast the power of Christ Jesus. 
Our heavenly perspective knows this truth: Joy doesn’t exist in the absence of hardship, joy exists in the presence of Christ Jesus.
From Pity to Praise 