I can do all things...

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” I then paused to draw in a few deep breaths before I started the mantra all over again.

It was basketball conditioning time and coach M always started our condition off with us having to run 1.5 miles. However, this particular day he told us that if we ran it in 9 minutes or less we wouldn’t have to run the rest of practice.

I thought that pushing it as hard as I could go for 9 minutes would be better than having to run for an hour and half more. I held fast to this verse as I was running. In a matter of moments, I was out front of the entire team. I was a freshman leading all runners today. I was going to do this and Jesus was going to give me the strength.

A couple of the senior starters were using my pace to the whole time, until the last lap when they pulled from the reserves and passed me up. I didn’t let it bother me, I was convinced that Jesus was going to help me. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

“Come on Horner, you can do this!” Coach M yelled. I made the last turn, and dug as deep as I could to give my last effort knowing that I wouldn’t have to run any more.

“9:01” Coach said!

“What?! That can’t be!” I thought. 1 second off. Where was Jesus at right then. I didn’t get it done, Jesus didn’t give me the strength.

“Horner, that’s close enough, I will count that,” coach said.

I learned a lot about taking Scriptures out of context and grace that day.

Philippians 4 :13 is probably the most miss quoted Scripture passage, right up there with “where two or three are gathered…” (that’s for another post).

Paul had a very specific purpose for writing Philippians 4:13, “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.” But it wasn’t written for the purpose of saying that, “I can do anything I want and Jesus will give me the strength to do it.” He wrote it in a specific context and he is referring to be content with what God has provided.

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and ever circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

In Christ, it doesn’t matter how much or how little you have, it matters if you have Him. Paul learned the secret of contentment, how to be happy with what He has, and looked at everything as a gift from God.

How can a child in Haiti who has absolutely nothing, by our standards, be so joyful in the Lord? How can a teenager in America who has a mom and dad who loves them, a giant room in a beautiful house that they get to call their own, a soft bed, never has to think about where the next meal comes from, gets to go to school for free and has the freedom to plan for college lose their joy because their XBOX game stops working?

It doesn’t make sense does it?

Now all poor kids are not joyful and all wealthy kids are not brats.

But the true key to being joyful and content in all circumstances is Jesus. If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ and you pursue Him every day, you will find that your contentment is growing. That’s His promise.

If you have little or you have much, or if you go through a season with either, you can be joyful and content in Christ. Why?

Because He promised, “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Now don’t jump to conclusions with this verse. There is a big difference between “needs” and “wants.” There is a big difference between your plans and God’s plans. There are times when God withholds for His glory and there are times when He pours out in abundance.

BUT God will supply all your needs in Christ, whom He gave according to His abundant riches in glory. “God demonstrated His love for us in this, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God will always give more of Himself to those who seek after Him. Even when we are lacking in earthly comforts, we can have the joy of heaven because He is with us.

Next time you hear the phrase, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” remember that it is talking about finding Joy in Christ no matter our circumstances.