The reason why the Bible spends so much of its time reiterating that God is a strong rock, a firm defense, and a sure refuge and help for the weak is that God spends so much of his time showing us that we are weak, both mentally and morally, and dare not trust ourselves to find or follow the right road.

When we walk along a clear road feeling fine, and someone takes our arm to help us, likely we would impatiently shake him off; but when we are caught in rough country in the dark, with a storm brewing and our strength spent, and someone takes our arm to help us, we would thankfully lean on him. And God wants us to feel that our way through life is rough and perplexing, so that we may learn to lean on him thankfully. Therefore he takes steps to drive us out of self-confidence to trust in himself, to – in the classic scriptural phrase for the secret of the godly man's life – "wait on the Lord."

Beloved, these are things that we know.

Second, in the midst of trials, we must remind ourselves that we have a loving brotherhood. Paul refers to the Philippians as "brethren." This word is not chosen haphazardly. A point is to be emphasized and that is the love and fellowship we have in the body of Christ. This dynamic comes through a little later in this same letter when Paul wrote, "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful."

Note that Epaphroditus was not distressed because he was sick, but because the Philippians had heard that he was sick. He was concerned for them as they were concerned for him. That is fellowship. That is the brotherhood. That is what we have in the midst of our sufferings and hardships. That is encouragement from the Lord. Hear Paul's heart and how he would have sorrow upon sorrow if Epaphroditus were to die. But, God had mercy on Epaphroditus, on Paul, and on the Philippians in that he lived. But, do not miss the love in these words.

By way of application, for me, this trial, particularly the surgery part, has shown me how much I love my family. I know that to be with Christ is better (Philippians 1:23). But how I love my family! And of course, I do not want them to have to go on without me. I have a precious wife from the Lord and three wonderful children as well (16; 12; and 2 years of age).

Not only did I learn how much I love my family, but I learned how much I love the family of God. How I've missed them while I was in the hospital! It was almost torture not to be there Sunday morning. How their love and fellowship ministers to my soul. I did not physically feel like going to church Wednesday, a week after surgery, but I needed to go and was so encouraged when I did. How we need the brotherhood in the midst of trial!