Joy That Sticks:Lessons from Philippians Part 1
Joy That Sticks: Lessons from Philippians-Part 1
When my children were little, I used to say, “Joy is like jam—the more you spread it, the more it sticks to you.” As a homeschooling mom of six, I needed that reminder every single day—especially when pop quizzes brought groans, or when someone dragged their feet through math lessons. Sometimes it felt easier to grumble than to smile. But joy, real joy, isn’t a surface emotion. It’s something deeper, something that clings even when life is hard and messy.
The apostle Paul knew this better than anyone. From a dark, foul Roman prison cell, he wrote a letter overflowing with the language of joy. In only four chapters, Paul uses the words joy and rejoice more than sixteen times. That fact alone should make us pause. How could a man chained to guards, awaiting a death sentence, speak so much of rejoicing?
The answer is simple: Paul’s joy wasn’t rooted in comfort, freedom, or circumstances. His joy was anchored in Jesus Christ. Paul understood that his life wasn’t his own and that this life was fleeting. As he put it, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The book of Philippians invites us to discover that same joy—a joy that doesn’t fade when life gets hard. Here are a few of the lessons Paul teaches us about joy that sticks.
Joy in the Gospel’s Advance
Paul begins by thanking God for the Philippians’ partnership in spreading the gospel:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you… always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3–5).
Even in chains, Paul rejoiced because the good news of Jesus was reaching new hearts. His imprisonment actually strengthened other believers to share the gospel with courage and boldness (Phil. 1:12–14). For Paul, the advancement of God’s kingdom was much more important than his personal comfort.
What about us? Our circumstances may look different, but we too can rejoice when Christ is proclaimed—whether through a missionary across the world, a neighbor who hears the gospel for the first time, or a child who trusts Jesus. True joy grows when we remember that the gospel cannot be chained! In recent days, we are seeing this after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. They thought they silenced Charlies voice and his message, which was clearly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, I’ve been blown away with how many times I have heard the Gospel being shared on Fox news and in my Facebook and Instagram feeds. So many have rededicated their lives to Christ, and many unsaved stepped into a church for the first time. This truly brings much joy to my heart!
Joy in Prayer and Thanksgiving
Paul also found joy in praying for others. “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” he wrote, “always offering prayer with joy” (Phil. 1:3–4). Gratitude was a top priority and this gave Paul so much joy.
When we pray with thanksgiving—even for the hard things—our perspective shifts. Instead of being consumed by problems, we are reminded of God’s unchanging goodness. His promises that never fail! Paul later exhorts,
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6–7).
Thanksgiving is not a nice afterthought; it’s a way to find true peace and joy! I sometimes had to force myself to pray with thanksgiving and I can honestly say there were many times that after I thanked God for whatever it was, my heart was filled with such peace which led me to have joyful spirit.
Joy in Unity and Humility
Paul’s heart overflowed with joy when believers were united.
“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:2).
This unity requires humility—the very humility we see in Jesus:
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who… emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant… becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5–8).
Joy and humility are like two best friends. When we stop thinking about ourselves and start helping each other, we’re behaving like Jesus, and this leads us feeling so happy when we love others without expecting anything in return. These are really important lessons to teach our kids. Perhaps the sibling arguing will subside some.
