Note 8 at Phil. 2:28: Paul was not living a life of depression. He had already stated in this letter that he was rejoicing through all his persecutions (Phil. 1:18; 2:17-18). He continues in this letter to admonish the Philippians to live a life of joy (; 4:4-8). Paul certainly lived what he preached.

Paul's joy was not in physical things; his joy was totally in the Lord (Phil. 1:21). In the natural, there were depressing things in his life and there was, no doubt, the temptation to be sorrowful. Bad things do happen to good people, and Christians are not exempt from problems and hardships. Sorrow comes into all of our lives. Sorrow exists, even for believers, but we don't have to let it dominate us.

Paul had emotions, including the feeling of sorrow, especially for others (see note 2 at Rom. 9:2, p. 804). But Paul rose above these natural things by thinking on the purer things of God. Paul lived a full life of joy, but not because sorrow didn't exist. Rather it was because Paul cast his sorrow over on the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7) and kept his mind stayed on things above (Col. 3:1-2).

Therefore, it is not inconsistent with Paul's faith to speak of being less sorrowful. He was saying that this would just remove one more situation that he would have had to deal with. This would be one less thing to be sorrowful about. Regardless, Paul was walking in the joy of the Lord despite all his circumstances, and we can too.