Preacher of Silver Linings
What exactly is a silver lining? A silver lining is when something good or productive is generated from a less than favorable situation. Optimists tend to look for silver linings in most situations, pessimists, not so much. While optimism and pessimism are a part of our DNA, at the end of the day, it’s ultimately our choice to which philosophy we ascribe.
Paul was the ultimate silver lining preacher. However, he pretty much only saw one silver lining…God will be glorified somehow in every situation. That is not to say Paul ignored reality and the severity of various situations, he was very honest about the situation. However, in every situation he encouraged and looked for ways or indications that somehow through the situation God would be glorified. And when he identified it, he told everyone about it.
There are many examples of Paul doing such as in the first chapter of Philippians. Paul is in prison and writing to the church in Philippi. Right out of the gate, he opens his letter by expressing his gratitude for them…
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:1-8)
He then expresses his desire for them to continue to grow in their faith and that God is glorified through them…
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
Except for a minor reference to his imprisonment, his opening remarks are all about them and God, not his situation. He encourages them to continue glorifying God and then, he turns to the silver lining.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
Paul was in the worst place you could be, prison where you didn’t know from day to if you would live or not. Nonetheless, to Paul that was irrelevant because as a result of his imprisonment, people in the prison were finding their way to God and those outside were boldly preaching God. Neither of which would likely have happened otherwise. While he’s not real thrilled about being in prison, he’s ecstatic that his situation is being used to glorify God and to show others God’s love and forgiveness.
And that’s a pretty good silver lining.
Paul was a master at identifying and creating silver linings that Glorified God, and he had many opportunities to do so. We would do well to study how he did that in each situation and then work to emulate that in our own lives, in every situation as well.
While life will always have it’s challenges, as a Christian you can find peace in knowing you will always find a silver lining if you choose to look for it. Written by the man himself, Paul's silver lining proclamation...
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Have a great day.
