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Suggested readings Philippians 1-4.
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
~Philippians 3:14
Life can be so hard sometimes, can't it? So hard that even getting out of bed is a feat. So what do we do when the weight of this life feels too heavy to carry? What do we do when we feel stuck? According to Paul in his letter to the Philippians, we press on. Here are some tips based on his letter to encourage and equip you to press on even when life feels anything but easy:
1. Let God work in you for His good purpose. When going through a challenging time or circumstance or perhaps when dealing with a challenging person, allow God to work in you for His good purpose. God always has a purpose, and it is always good (see Romans 8:28). We can rely on that. God never acts outside of His character, and what He allows in our lives--trials, challenges, hardships--He allows for a purpose. Trust Him and let Him work; for by doing so, you'll be able to press on through the challenges.
2. Consider others above yourself. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3 ESV) Part of pressing on is taking the focus off of yourself and putting it on others. When you do that, you allow yourself to move forward. Why? Because more often than not, when you consume yourself so much with your own problems, you become stuck in them. When you allow yourself, instead, to count others more significant than yourself, then your problems decrease while movement increases. There's a saying that goes something like this, "If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together." The thing is, you can go fast running in place, but you can't go far. Press on by pressing into the needs of others. You'll go far and perhaps you'll not have to go alone.
3. Do everything without complaining. Philippians 2:14 is clear about doing all things but doing them without complaining or arguing. Verse 15 goes on to say "that you may be blameless and innocent," which indicates that in order to press on in this challenging life, you have to do it in a way that allows God to be more evident and sin to be less. Do you have reason to complain? Absolutely, without a doubt. But does that give you the right to? Not if you want to be found blameless and innocent. Complaining damages not only your character but also your brain, according to research,1 and to press on, you need everything about you to be found healthy and holy.
4. Be filled with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the opposite of complaining. There's something to be said about having an attitude of gratitude when dealing with life. Gratitude is fuel for the soul. It brings joy, contentment, and life to the body. "Rejoice in the Lord." (Philippians 3:1 ESV) "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4:4 ESV) Anything worth repeating is worth noting. Paul emphasizes rejoicing in the Lord because you can't press on if you aren't rejoicing in the Lord and you can't rejoice in the Lord if you're not filled with thanksgiving.
5. Think about whatever is right, admirable, and excellent. Philippians 4:8 has an amazing list of qualities to focus on instead of on all of the challenges in life. (I recommend going back and reading all of them!) Pressing on means putting energy into the right, admirable, and excellent instead of the wrong, abominable, and terrible. Too often power is given to the negative. You can change the direction, the atmosphere, and the attitudes of others by giving power to the positive. Set your minds, then, on the right, admirable, and excellent if you want to press on toward the goal Christ is calling you to because you "can do all things through him." (Philippians 4:13)
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