Portraits of Grace

John MacArthur: This is John MacArthur; join me for today’s Portraits of Grace. Do you often find yourself allowing the difficult, changing circumstances of financial trouble, family trials, and failing relationships to steal your joy?

It’s easy to let those things get the best of you, isn’t it? Yet the Apostle Paul gave us a different example. He wrote to the Philippians that in spite of being imprisoned in Rome, he was still rejoicing. That was because the gospel was being declared even among the prison guards. Paul was never concerned about his own suffering as long as others heard the saving news of Jesus Christ.

So how do you avoid letting trials get you down? Look to Paul’s example. Find a way in the midst of the trial to preach the gospel to somebody else around you. Be encouraging to them to come to faith in Christ. Instead of being dominated by the trial, you’ll become a portrait of God’s grace.