Joy in Life | Philippians 4:1-9
How many of you struggle or know someone who struggles with mental health? You are not alone. Studies show that 1 in 5 adults has faced an anxiety disorder in the past year, and 1 in 3 will experience one at some point. Among teens, 40% of high schoolers say they feel hopeless, sad, or depressed, and 70% wrestle with anxiety. Among young adults (18-25), 30% have been diagnosed with a mental illness in just the past year, and a 1/3 of them will also struggle with substance abuse. Our world is full of people who are hurting on the inside while smiling on the outside. Selena Gomez recently released a documentary for Apple TV, titled “My Mind and Me.” In it, she explores her ongoing struggle with anxiety, depression, her time spent in a clinic, and her diagnosis of bipolar. She opens the documentary by saying that “everything I have ever wished for I’ve had and done all of it. But it killed me because there is always Selena.” Later, she says, “I feel trapped in my own mind.” Have you ever felt trapped in your own mind? Do you feel like you are alone? Do you want to break free? Do you want joy in your life?
Paul is writing from prison. He’s chained up, cut off but radiating with joy. He is ending his letter by getting intensely practical by addressing the things that can steal our joy. These verses contain three of the most searched verses on You Version, with verse 6 being the number one. Emotions are the smoke that points us to the fire that is raging in our souls. These verses are smoke detectors that help us wake us to deal with the fire that is raging in our heads. Paul teaches us that we can have joy in our lives by dealing with conflict, defeating anxiety, and destroying negativity.