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The Greatest Mystery - Reflections on the gospel joy of the apostle Paul

What stops me from giving up, after the hardest year yet?
It’s that I’m not yet sure that my experience is anything abnormal.
When I read of the apostle Paul, he is “hard pressed on every side”, when I read of the Lord Jesus, he is the lowliest of servants - humble and haggard like no-one else, yet so full of love and splendour.

So what is it that runs the risk of slipping through my fingers?
Gospel joy. 
Simply telling myself to be joyful will not do it.
In his letter to the Philippians, I’m astounded by how Paul continually rejoices for being in prison. 
How can he rejoice? 
Because people are hearing about Jesus. 
Those who knew him must have been thinking “what a nobody, a loser, a has-been”. 
But he writes, calling people to partner with him in his imprisoned state. 
Do you stand with Paul, Aimee? 
Do you stand with the Lord Jesus, broken and battered, but not for nothing?
And do you pray for what Paul prays for? 
Do you praise God for his work in people, even when you are almost afraid to identify it as such?
You must not lose this joy. 
At no point did Paul’s circumstances dictate his gospel joy! 

Don’t worry about the future. 
Imagine yourself in prison: on your knees at all times; praising Him, thanking Him, pleading with Him for people, weeping for them. 
Don’t become hard-hearted, calloused by disappointment. 
Don’t lose your zeal; your gospel ambition. 

There is one King who is worth losing everything for, and he is still the King today. 
He loves me, he sees me, he holds me, he knows me. 
When I am weak, he is always strong, and I love Him so much.
Remember that, when your gospel joy wobbles, Aimee.

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