In Philippians 3:1 Paul says that the answer to the problem, no matter what it is that is trying to steal your joy, is always “Rejoice in the Lord!”
Paul knows that this phrase sounds a bit trite so he says, “For me to write the same thing is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” Rejoice in the Lord: Is the Christian equivalent of the Old Testament exclamation, Hallelujah. It is the mark of a spiritual life, a sign of the victorious Christian. The phrase is distinctively relational; in fact Paul uses it twice in this little letter here and 4:4! Paul had already defined obedience in 2:14 as without grumbling and complaining which are the signs of unbelief. Thus the sign of faith is rejoicing, “God said it, I believe Him, time to rejoice!”
Our rejoicing is not based upon our enjoying the difficulty, neither is it based upon God working the situation out according to our plans. Our rejoicing is in the reality that irrespective of our challenge God will be glorified and this difficulty will make us more like Him!