Developing Better Vision: How God Works Through Hard Times
When Life Hurts, God Is Still at Work
Senior Pastor David Rose takes us into Philippians 1:12–20, where we see Paul, in chains, reflecting on how God’s hand is still moving—even in tough seasons. From a Roman prison, Paul writes with surprising boldness and joy, pointing to how God continues to carry out His purposes through circumstances we wouldn’t choose.
In this message, Pastor David walks us through five truths found in this powerful passage. These truths show how God uses challenges to move His mission forward, build up the body, and shine Christ’s glory through His people.
Remember: The cross looked like defeat. But it was victory. In that same way, God often uses the very things we’d rather avoid to bring about something far greater than we can see.
Key Takeaways
- God works in the worst of circumstances. (Philippians 1:12-13)
- God produces confidence as He works. (Philippians 1:14)
- God knows motivations (Philippians 1:15-17)
- God glorifies Jesus through witness. (Philippians 1:18)
- God unites the church through mission. (Philippians 1:19-20)
Further Study
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In Philippians 1:12, Paul says his imprisonment actually moved the gospel forward. How does this challenge your view of unexpected events in your life? Are there places in your story where God might be working behind the scenes for eternal impact? What would it look like to view your challenges as gospel opportunities for rather than obstacles?
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Paul’s example encouraged others to speak more boldly (Philippians 1:14). Can you think of someone whose walk with Christ gave you courage to live out your faith more openly? Take a minute to thank God for them, then call or text to encourage them.
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Looking at Philippians 1:15-17’s contrast between those preaching from envy versus genuine love, and Christ’s warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), what heart motives drive your service to God? How does Paul’s focus on Christ being proclaimed (v.18) challenge our tendency toward competition and comparison?
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In Philippians 1:19, Paul links his deliverance to the Philippians’ prayers and the Spirit’s help. Considering Christ’s teaching on persistent prayer (Luke 18:1-8) and the Spirit’s role in intercession (Romans 8:26), how might this shape your understanding of corporate prayer in the church’s mission? What specific ways can you support others through prayer during their trials?
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Philippians 1:20 shows Paul’s hope to honor Christ, no matter the outcome. In light of the call to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23) and Paul’s declaration that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21), what would it mean for you to hold your life circumstances loosely while maintaining unshakeable joy in Christ?
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outJust like Paul proclaimed from a prison cell, the good news about Jesus keeps moving forward, even in the most unexpected and difficult times. As Pastor David pointed out in the sermon, “Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to bring dead people to life.” That powerful truth echoes all throughout Paul’s letter. Our biggest problem isn’t that we need improvement, it’s that we’re spiritually dead and in need of resurrection.
The gospel starts by being honest about our condition. Like Paul before he met Jesus, we might have a long list of religious accomplishments, moral checkboxes, or a solid reputation, but without Christ, we’re still “dead in sin.” Nothing we do—no amount of effort, tradition, or self-improvement—can bring us back into right relationship with the holy God who made us.
But God, full of mercy, sent His Son. As Pastor David reminded us through Isaiah 43, God says, “When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you. When you walk through the fire, it won’t consume you.” That promise finds its fullest meaning in Jesus, who walked through the waters of death and the fire of judgment in our place.
By living a perfect life, dying in our place, and rising again, Jesus did what we never could. He took our sin, our shame, and our death—and gave us His righteousness, His welcome, and His eternal life. That’s the salvation Paul points to in verse 19, not just a rescue from hard circumstances, but complete freedom from the grip of sin and death.
And what does God ask of us? To trust Jesus. That’s it. This faith, though simple, changes everything. It flips our perspective: what looks like loss becomes gain, what feels like defeat becomes victory, and even chains become a platform for God’s grace.
We see the fruit of this kind of faith all over Paul’s words:
- A heart that trusts God’s hand, even in hard times
- A new lens that spots His work in the mess
- A deep joy that doesn’t depend on ease or comfort
- A calling to speak about Jesus, no matter the cost
- A community bound together by the gospel and its mission
And that’s the beauty of the gospel, not that God promises to take away every struggle, but that He repurposes them for His glory and our good, shaping us more into the image of Jesus.
If you’ve never known this kind of transformation, moving from death to life through faith in Jesus, today can be the day. God is still in the business of making all things new, including you.