07 Joy In Peace Series

Have you ever watched video footage of a hurricane? The winds howl, rain pours in sheets, and everything in its path is shaken. But in the very center of the storm, there’s something incredible: the eye of the storm. While chaos swirls all around, the eye remains calm. The storm is still there. The destruction is still very real. But in the middle of it all, there is a place of peace.

Christian music artist Ryan Stevenson captures this truth in his song “Eye of the Storm”—listen to some of the lyrics:

"In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm."

The reality of life is that storms will come. We are not exempt from suffering. Many of you know this firsthand. You’ve faced loss, heartache, and trials that have been overwhelming. And I know some of you are in the middle of that storm right now. And let’s be honest—when the winds rage and the waves crash, joy may feel like the last thing we can experience.

But this is exactly where this defiant joy we’ve been learning about stands apart from a shallow, circumstantial feeling of happiness. I want you to know that you can be unhappy and still have the joy of the Lord; You can be angry and grieving, filled with sorrow and questioning, and still have the joy of the Lord. Defiant joy doesn’t ignore the storm, it anchors us in the midst of the storm.

We’ve been walking through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, discovering that the joy of the Lord is not dictated by what happens to us but by the unshakable reality of God’s presence with us. The joy of the Lord is not an escape from the storm, it is the strength that carries us through it.

Each week, we’ve seen several different ways that this joy can flourish in our lives. Joy flourishes when we share in God’s mission, when we exalt Christ in suffering, when we embrace Christlike humility, when we obey and serve faithfully, when we treasure Christ above all else, and when we press on toward heaven’s hope.

And today, Paul brings us to another vital truth: joy flourishes when we rest in God’s presence and experience His peace. This isn’t about pretending the storm isn’t there. It’s not about minimizing pain. It’s about knowing that no matter how strong the winds blow, “The Lord is near.” His peace, a peace that “... surpasses all understanding …”, guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And, as we live “... in Christ Jesus”, we live in that peace and we experience this joy.

Let’s turn our attention to the text. We’ll begin with Philippians 4:2-3, where Paul admonishes us to …

I. Restore Peace in Your Relationships (vs. 2-3)

Beginning at verse 2 – I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Here, Paul shifts from offering general encouragement to addressing a specific relational conflict within the church. He names two faithful women, Euodia and Syntyche, and pleads with them to “live in harmony in the Lord.”

At first, this may seem surprising, but it’s important to realize that these women aren’t characterized as “busy-bodies” or “troublemakers.” They were partners with Paul in his ministry. They had shared in Paul’s struggles for the gospel and had faithfully labored alongside him. He even affirms that their names are written in the book of life. Yet, despite their faithfulness, some level of conflict and disharmony had taken root — a threat to the unity of the church.

This reminds us of an important truth: even among mature believers, conflicts will arise. No one is immune. But what matters is how we respond to those conflicts. The gospel doesn’t call us to ignore or avoid relational struggles. It calls us to Seek Reconciliation in Christ.

Notice that Paul doesn’t take sides here. He doesn’t assign blame or demand apologies. Instead, he urges them both — individually and equally — to “live in harmony in the Lord.” This isn’t about one person getting their way. It’s about setting aside personal agendas and coming together in unity under the Lordship of Christ.

Paul’s appeal is grounded in the themes he established earlier in this letter. Look back at Philippians 2:2-5, where he calls the church to be “... of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose … not merely look[ing] out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” We are to pursue unity through Christlike humility and Christlike love for one another.