Philippians 1:9-17: a reflection

9This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News, 13so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ, 14and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. 16The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; 17but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

Paul writes from prison, and he wants the Philippians to see his imprisonment rightly. I want you to know, brothers, he says, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. His chains, far from hindering God's work, had spread it: the whole imperial guard now knew he was imprisoned for Christ, and most of the believers, emboldened by his example, were speaking the word more fearlessly than before. What looked like a setback had become a means of advance.

Notice how Paul reframes his hardship. He does not see his imprisonment as a defeat for the gospel, a hindrance to be lamented, but as something God has used to carry the message further than his freedom might have. The guards who chained him heard why he was there; the believers who watched him found courage. God had woven Paul's very setback into the advance of his purposes. What the enemy meant to silence, God used to spread the word.

That is a reframe worth holding when our own plans are frustrated, our own work is hindered, our own circumstances feel like setbacks. God is able to use even what looks like a defeat to advance his purposes, in ways we may not see at the time. Paul's chains preached. Your hindered plans, your frustrating circumstances, your unwelcome setback, may be, in God's hands, the very means by which he is advancing something good. Do not assume that what obstructs you defeats God's purposes. Ask, as Paul learned to, how God might be using even this to advance his work.

Lord, Paul saw that his imprisonment had actually served to advance the gospel, that his chains spread the word and emboldened others. When my own plans are frustrated and my circumstances feel like setbacks, help me trust that you can use even these to advance your purposes, in ways I may not yet see. Keep me from assuming that what obstructs me defeats your work. Show me how you might be advancing something good even through this.