Philippians: 14 Days of Hope and EncouragementSample

Just this week, I was fighting some doubt. I knew what God had told me to do about something, but during a night of insomnia and conflicting evidence, I started to wonder… had I talked myself into something instead of hearing from God?

First thing in the morning, I called a friend. She said one sentence that made everything clear. One sentence that I believe God dropped into her heart. I knew with confidence I’d heard right for months and that the night’s questioning had been doubt creeping in.

My friend who loves Jesus was able to serve me, even though she’s hours away.

In today’s verses, the apostle Paul is in prison, but he’s reaching out to his fellow believers in Philippi. He wants them to know that when he thinks of them, the memories bring him joy. They’re so special that he is earnestly praying for them to be more like Jesus. To grow in love. To understand that, although they may doubt their growth, God doesn’t stop working until He’s finished, and He won’t stop working in them.

Paul is literally under house arrest, yet he is serving the people he loves by reaching out and praying.

I find this Scripture to be so beautiful. God created us to live in community, but sometimes we feel alone or like there’s no way to help. My closest friends all live states away, so I get it. But, as Paul’s letter demonstrates, we can serve others, just like Paul did and just like my friend did, even when miles and circumstances separate us.

So often, the best thing we can do for someone is to pray. Here’s the fun part… we can serve people in prayer, even if they’re strangers. I find myself praying for people on the news, but they’ll never know it. What a privilege!

Even when we are stuck in “prison” or we’re far away from friends, Paul proves that we can still serve. Today, who can you reach with a card, a call, or a prayer? Because God’s love isn’t diminished by distance… and neither is ours.

~Jodie Bailey

Novelist, Faith Over Fear Podcast Host