Wednesday, September 16, 2026
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. … for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. … Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 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. (Philippians 1:12-14, 19-21, 27-30)
Have you ever seen a little child walking past a big, barking dog, holding tightly to his father’s hand? The noise is scary, but the child keeps walking. He knows his father will keep him safe. And it can be like that for us, too, as children of God who live in a world full of suffering. Of course we hate to suffer—who doesn’t? But as we grow in our trust in Jesus our Savior, we start to realize by experience that nothing, even suffering, can separate us from Him or destroy us—because Jesus has us safely in His arms. And that results in a strange kind of peace.
Take Paul’s experience here. He is writing to the Philippians from prison—and he seems strangely happy about this bad situation! How can that be? Well, I’m sure Paul didn’t like being in prison—nobody could. But he’s noticed that his suffering has had an odd effect on the guards and the other prisoners. They all know why Paul is in prison. That means they have been exposed to the Gospel—to the story of how God came into the world as a human being, Jesus Christ, to live and die and rise again. And they have heard that everyone who trusts in Him will be freed from evil and death, and live with God in love forever.
So Paul is okay with his suffering, because these people are getting the chance to believe in Jesus! And he’s also happy because the local Christians are seeing his example and following it.
This can happen with us, too. Nobody likes to suffer. But the Holy Spirit can use our suffering so that the people around us notice God’s work in our lives and come to faith in Jesus. That’s worth rejoicing, isn’t it?
WE PRAY: Lord, You know the trouble in my life. Please use it somehow, so that other people will come to trust in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions: