Introduction: Is suffering always bad? Not according to Scripture. Here’s what I mean…

Context: Philippians is one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament. It has been called a letter of joy. One of the crucial ironies of the letter is to remember that it was written from prison, where Paul was chained for bearing witness to the gospel. Joy amidst chains? Yes. Suffering but penning a letter to people he loved? Yes. The grace of suffering? Yes.

Paul writes to “the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi” (Phil 1:1, ESV) and reminds them of God’s grace to them and himself, and how God uses suffering as a grace:

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (Phil 1:29-30, ESV).

Did we catch that? It has been granted to not only become believers in Christ but also to suffer for his sake.

Belief in the truth and suffering for that truth are graces of the sovereign God.

Some Reflections upon Why:

• As a testimony (Phil 1:15-18)
• To reveal the genuine (Phil 1:28)
• As encouragement to those who follow (Phil 1:25)
• To increase our love of Christ (Phil 1:9)
• To humble us (Phil 2:7-8)
• To strengthen us (Phil 4:13)

Encouragement/takeaway: Belief in the truth and suffering for that truth are graces of the sovereign God. Suffering for the sake of the gospel is not wasted or extraneous suffering. It is used by God to shape us into effective vessels–not for ourselves alone but for all who will come to the truth.