If we take a look at the ocean (the availability of this may vary, but bear with me), we notice the ebbs and flows of the water, the tides and currents, and how sticks, plants, and other ocean debris are subject to these patterns of the sea. They drift as the ocean moves.
We are much like this ocean debris. In our natural state, we drift as life moves. Like a car, if we don’t steer towards our destination, we’ll end up in a ditch. This picture applies to our walk with Christ. We will inevitably drift away if we are indifferent and don’t intentionally move towards Christ. We get sidetracked and busy with the day to day. We can get subtly distracted from Christ, and in this distraction from dependence on Him, seek to walk in independence without Him. We are then left to attempt to rely on our ill-equipped flesh. This, of course, leads us to destruction and fruitless endeavours, as only the Lord God can bear fruit through us. So, then, how do we avoid drifting? I believe Philippians 4:4-7 offers great insight into this.
“4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
I love the wording of verse 4. The text isn’t suggesting that we rejoice TO the Lord for our circumstances, but that we rejoice IN the Lord, despite our circumstances. As we recognize the goodness and greatness of God our perspective is shifted. We are realigned with the proper order of our lives, Christ above, us beneath. This is done by praising Him, and we are reminded of His character. This is why Paul could rejoice in prison. We see later in Philippians 4:10-13 that Paul can be content in any and every situation. Paul was not rejoicing for being in prison, but that Christ is his saviour and God even while he’s in prison. This is the hope we can turn to in our everyday lives.
In Philippians 4:5-7 we see the outworking of rejoicing in Him, as well as a taste of what that practically looks like.
Verse 5 tells us to let our gentle spirit be known. This isn’t in and of ourselves; only Christ can do this through us. In and of ourselves, we are hopelessly evil (Romans 3:10). This gentleness is some of the fruit of rejoicing in Christ! His kind and gentle Spirit through us.
Verse 6 shows us another way of surrender. Choosing to give God our worries. This may be easier said than done but truly only the Lord is enough for all our problems. I don’t know about you, but I certainly do NOT have seamless control over every (or really any) issue in my life. The Lord wants this! He wants to be our Saviour. In fact, He proved this on the cross! As we intentionally surrender our lives, drifting is out of the picture. Drifting demands complacency. The ocean debris simply has to exist and do nothing, and it will be moved as the ocean moves. Intentionally dying to control is anything but complacent.
Lastly, verse 7 offers immense comfort as our lives are handed to Christ. His peace, a peace larger than understanding, will guard us. He is at work keeping us in Him! What a phenomenal word to trust in. He is protecting us, letting us know when we drift as we are listening and abiding. He is guarding us, often, from ourselves. As for our everyday worries, he wants them, and will take them. All this so that we may live closer in relationship to Him; undistracted. To return to verse 4, what a beautiful God we may rejoice in!
We must be diligent not to be tossed about, as ocean debris, by the everyday. Intentional rejoicing and surrender of ourselves for the life God has for us will maintain in us a steadfast heart. This is not our doing, but the continued work and guarding of our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
By: Konrad Petkau
