Finding Joy In Every Season

Finding Joy in Every Season

Philippians 4:10-13; Job 1:20-21; Psalms 103:2-5

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

Is it truly possible for God’s people to experience unspeakable joy at all times? Even though we have been “called out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9), can we, as sheep sent among wolves (Matthew 10:16), truly find peace and joy in a world that exalts the god of “self,” where people often prioritize their own desires above all else?

Are not the quarrels and conflicts of this world caused by the evil desires that rage within, as people covet, fight, and strive to take what is not theirs (James 4:1-3)? Does the Good Shepherd truly expect us to endure the world’s injustice with a heart of thanksgiving and unwavering joy? How can a victim of human trafficking feel joy in the midst of unspeakable suffering? How can those in extreme poverty rejoice when a mere 1% of the population controls more wealth than they could ever spend? Is it truly possible to have peace and joy while facing persecution simply for worshiping the one true God? And for those who have been displaced by war—forced to flee from homes they did not ask to leave—how could they feel anything but anger and resentment instead of joy?

While our struggles may look different, don’t we all face trials that weigh just as heavily on our hearts? The Apostle Paul teaches that we are to be content in all situations, but how can one truly feel joy while being battered by the whirlwinds of suffering in this decaying world (Romans 8:20-21)?

Can joy be found in a marriage filled with conflict?

Can joy exist when you are overlooked, mistreated, or discriminated against in your workplace simply because you refuse to conform to the world’s ways?

Can joy remain when the stock market crashes, taking with it a significant portion of your retirement savings, leaving you anxious and uncertain?

Is it possible to experience joy even when diagnosed with a debilitating, life-threatening disease like cancer?

The world would say, "No! Joy is circumstantial!" But today’s sermon will explore why God’s Word says otherwise.

Through the testimonies of the Apostle Paul—who was flogged, shipwrecked, and constantly in danger—and Job—who lost everything, yet still worshiped God—we will uncover how joy is not dependent on circumstances, but rather anchored in something far greater: our eternal blessings in Christ.

As we journey through Scripture today, I invite you to open your heart and allow God to shift your perspective. Joy is not found in our circumstances but in our unshakable hope in Christ. Let Him teach you how to fix your eyes on His eternal promises, so that no storm—no matter how fierce—can steal your joy!

Contentment Through Christ

If anyone had reason to let suffering steal his joy, it was Apostle Paul—imprisoned, beaten, and constantly in danger. Yet, rather than succumbing to despair, he writes with a heart overflowing with gratitude and contentment. Nowhere is this more evident than in his letter to the Philippians, where, despite his chains, he thanks them for their generous gift and testifies to a joy that transcends circumstances. Paul, who likely possessed nothing more than the clothes on his back, a few tools of his trade, and the papyrus and parchment scrolls he mentions in 2 Timothy 4:13, did not rejoice because he sought further provisions. Rather, his joy sprang from seeing their gift as evidence of their eagerness to partner with him in spreading the gospel, bearing fruit, and bringing glory to God. He assured them, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). But what was Paul’s secret? How could he rejoice despite imprisonment, stoning, lashings, and constant threats from bandits, Jews, and Gentiles alike? What allowed him to remain steadfast in the face of such suffering?

Paul’s struggles may seem distant from ours, but his message remains timeless. Whether we are burdened by financial instability, sickness, or injustice, the question we must answer is the same: Is our joy dependent on changing circumstances, or on the unchanging Christ? Paul gives us the answer: true contentment is found only in Christ, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Charles Spurgeon rightly observed, “Contentment in all states is not a natural propensity of man. Ill weeds grow apace; covetousness, discontent, and murmuring, are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil.” Contentment, for Paul, was not passive resignation to suffering but an active trust in God’s provision, freeing him from the burden of coveting material things—a burden that reveals spiritual poverty rather than prosperity. Paul’s contentment was not about self-sufficiency but Christ-sufficiency. He acknowledged that it took time to reject the pull of worldly desires, learning instead to set his heart on treasures that could not be lost or stolen. Paul found no satisfaction in possessions. Instead, he came before the Lord, thirsty, and received the spiritual food freely given (Isaiah 55:1-2). Though he knew that his body would eventually fail (Psalm 73:26), he fixed his gaze heavenward (Colossians 3:1-2), finding not just contentment but unspeakable joy, for Christ was his portion forever.