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The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough circumstances. Even while he was confined in a prison cell, he kept his eyes on Christ and trusted firmly in the Savior. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord�s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing (1:18; 2:18; 3:1).Philippians 3:8-11 Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the situation at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles look scary and overwhelm us with a sense of defeat. However, fear and defeat cannot live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. I�m not saying you�ll forget what you�re going through, but you can choose to dwell on His provision and care instead. He is the Deliverer (2 Cor. 1:10). He is the Healer (Deut. 32:39). He is the Guide (Prov. 3:6). The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions. In their place, hope, confidence, and contentment take up residence (Phil. 4:11). You aren�t going to be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and up to something good in the midst of trouble. The Lord�s principles and promises don�t change, no matter how severe or painful the situation is. Focus on Christ instead of the circumstances�God will comfort your heart and bring you safely through the trial. Then you can answer Paul�s call to �rejoice in the Lord always� (Phil. 4:4).