Having Problems
Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
In every lack, for everything and everyone that is not there, God has an opportunity to be that to you. He does not take these away to be mean, but rather to step in and fill the role formerly occupied by what is missing. When man or woman is not, God is the husband and the wife who is perfect; he never makes mistakes unlike the collection of motley fools we call our spouses. Isaiah 54:1 and 2 Corinthians 6:18 state he is the father and the mother when they have stepped out or when they have been taken away by death. He is our health, our wealth, and our blessings in 2 Peter 1:3. 1 Corinthians 9:22 says that Paul became "all things to all men" that he might by some way "save some." What if the God I serve did the same for you? Salvation does not just have to be from the devil and from hell; you need saving from rather lonely nights, self destructive patterns, those around you, the circumstances, and even yourself. The heart of God is not on your comfort, although he has it in mind. The testing of Job was to replace his blessings with the faithfulness of God; his blessings were restored when God was satisfied. Sometimes in our lives we have a tendency to put the blessings ahead of God. The church who left their first love had that problem in Revelation 2:4. They took the first step of leaving the devil, the world, and sin behind; they failed to gain first place in their second Heavenly love's heart because he was not first in their own. It is not readily apparent whether this love faded or if they had the love of Christ at one point and then lost it because of the trials they faced. What is not still a matter of great debate is the fact that Christ deserves preeminence as in Colossians 1:18.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
In case we were to doubt the sufficiency of God, this verse speaks of the shift. Notice he does not say think of your spouse, the children, or the blessings and they will be with you; rather, God will be with you. Verse eight tells of the transformation. Focus on him and he will live in you according to John 15:4. Galatians 2:20 says after you were crucified with Christ you got up; not only did you get up, but you did so in the power of Christ. He desires to be all things to all men. Why does God allow the devil? There are a number of reasons but among these is that Christ may be the only in the lives of his people. Colossians 1:18 says he is the beginning, the head, and the firstborne before those who are not his and before the angels of Heaven. What he takes away, he always replaces it with himself.