You can find joy in pain.  Paul did.  He was in prison for preaching Jesus, his so-called brothers were taking advantage of his imprisonment, and his life was in danger.  But he celebrated the progress the gospel had made through his imprisonment and persecution.  As to the risk of execution, Paul said, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Jim Elliot, missionary to the Auca indians of Ecuador, gave his life for the progress of the gospel.  In his words, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  Step into a world in which pain and death are not worth comparing to the glory that God will reveal in us.

The Christian life is relentless pursuit of happiness. In his most joy-filled letter, Paul reveals the motives that drive him and the habits that feed his joy. Since Paul’s happiness is completely wrapped up in the glory of God, he finds joy in places we might not expect. His greeting to the Philippians shows his delight in being a slave of Christ and making disciples of Christ.

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