How to Find Joy in Hard Times: Philippians

Lynn Cohick (0:01)

I think so often in our lives, sometimes our faithfulness feels like, why am I even doing this?

Allison Allen (0:06)

What is the purpose?

Lynn Cohick (0:09)

But we may be defeating the enemy in our faithfulness, just as Paul is saying the Philippians, when you stand fast and firm in the face of the suffering, because that's what's coming, you're called not only to believe, but also to suffer. How many times do we hear that in the gospel message? It's just like, hey, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and you're saved, which is true.

Lisa Harper (0:34)

And then you'll get a high metabolism and everything will work out for you. And it's like, we don't usually hear you're called to suffer.

Lynn Cohick (0:41)

That's right. It's to believe and to suffer for him.

Allison Allen (0:51)

Hey, hey, Back Porchers, my name is Allison Allen. I am the 5'12 spiritual wing woman to Lisa D. Harper for Back Porch Theology. And we're so excited that you're here. Now listen, I'm supposed to let you know this occasionally. And so I'm going to do it.

If you're hanging out and you've been hanging out with us for a while and you haven't hit that like or subscribe button, we would love for you to do it just because it helps other people find us. If you do us that solid, we would be so thankful. And that's the business out of the way. Now, we have to get to work at hand.

Lisa Harper (1:21)

You make me smile when you talk. Why? Does she not just the inflection in your face? You want to do what she says. Yes.

If she did Simon Says, I'd do every single thing. She says you're just such a joyful communicator.

Allison Allen (1:34)

Oh, you're so sweet.

Lisa Harper (1:35)

I love you. I love that you smile when you talk, that your face lights up, makes me happy.

Allison Allen (1:41)

Thank you. Thank you. Well, my face has been lighting up a lot this year.

Lisa Harper (1:45)

I knew you were going to segue with that because of- I segue. Yes.

Allison Allen (1:48)

Because of Dr. Cohick, you've been with us several times this year, and it has been so rich. In fact, Lisa and I were talking. Every episode feels like it could be two or three, and we're finding ourselves trying to figure out how to land the plane because you're bringing so much incredible content.

Lisa Harper (2:02)

Well, let me tell you just personally, I was really stuck and wasn't sure I would finish my doctorate because I'd gotten really stuck on some issues with my thesis. And Dr. Cohick, we weren't even at the same school anymore. And she called me. I wish I'd saved the phone call. I don't know that I've ever had anybody that type of an academic person that's in rarefied air.

She has forgotten more Greek and Hebrew than I will ever know or be able to pronounce correctly.

And she basically just in a phone call said, let me help you. I shouldn't have the time to do this. And reached her hand and just pulled me to a new place. And I think as a scholar, as a seminarian, as an academic, you're such an every woman. And I so appreciate that you've spent decades with all of your doctorate, all the stuff you've done, heading up seminaries, writing commentaries, that you take regular people with what God has revealed to you through decades of deep study. And you've said, let's eat this together. It's like you harvested the food, you cooked the food, you set the table and you go, but I'd love to share it with you. And I so deeply appreciate that about you because sometimes I'm around brilliant people and I'll think, I'm stuck on the second word. I don't know what the second word was, they said. And you're so kind in going, it's like when David says in the Psalms, come eat this with me. This is the best meal I've ever had. You do that for us on a continual basis. I'm so glad you're a porch pal now.

Allison Allen (3:43)

Yeah. Thank you. Yes. Please, when you mentioned that, you know, I don't know, it was probably a year ago, we talked about the power of intellectual humility. Yes. That's you, Dr. Cohick.

Lisa Harper (3:52)

Yeah, it is.

Allison Allen (3:52)

Deeply intellectual and deeply humble. And it is a rare combination. So thank you for allowing us to-

Lisa Harper (3:58)

Now I'm totally embarrassed. Sorry, sorry. Now you're really blessing us. We gushed a little bit, but it is well deserved. And you're so humble. Every now and then, you need a little bit of gushing. We need to pump you up. Yeah, because you've already taught us about how we're all God's handiwork. From Ephesians, we're treasures.