The coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the world from its usual pace down to a crawl. Citizens feel confined to a limited space of living. Something that is unseen has taken away much of our freedom, which is our modern life. Feeling confined and with limited and controlled activity, one may compare this to being in jail. We shall look into the Bible and learn from Paul the Apostle how he endured during his stay in a jail. Paul was in a Roman jail when he wrote the epistle to the church at Philippi. “Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2). In the salutation of his letter, Paul notes that he is offering grace and peace from God our Father. He is concerned about others even in imprisonment. Paul knows the mercy of God the Father, and he requests peace and grace to others from His great mercy. Next, Paul has a prayer list. He prayed for other people every day. He found joy in praying for others.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making requests with joy” (Philippians 1:3-4). In the closing chapter of this letter, Paul reaches into the inner soul, giving the deep things which outward stimuli cannot reach. This is in the mental self-governing element of our being. It is the thought process. Paul writes, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever thing are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). Opinions, statistics, rumors, biased reports and emotions can distort the mind to develop untrue, dishonest, unjust, unlovely and bad reports with no virtue, no praise, and cloud the thoughts of peace and contentment and their relationship with the mind of God. Fear without proper thought process results in behavior that is negative and produces no solution directive. It may enhance the problem. Paul set a powerful example of how to have, when you seemingly don’t have, just by faith alone.