Paul wrote the above words from the Roman prison, where he was in chains and cut off from active ministry. The Philippian saints had sent him a gift by the hand of Epaphroditus, who had evidently expressed to Paul the sorrow of his Philippian friends that he was imprisoned and that the gospel was thus being hindered. Paul assures them “that the things which happened unto me” had not hindered the gospel, “but have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” Thus it is with us also. Many times it seems “that the things which happened” in our lives, over which we have no control, have thwarted God’s purposes and have hindered our testimony for the Lord. But let us not forget that the Lord has permitted our circumstances and has assured us “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” However man opposes, still God “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will,” “for we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” So whatever our circumstances and our limitations, if they are truly committed to Him, He will cause them to fall out “unto the furtherance of the gospel.”
Hindered and thwarted on all sides,
Our labors seem small and few,
But He who holds all things in hand
Sees things from a different view.
Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11; 2 Cor. 13:8.