Always Needed

I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances . . . I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:12–13

Philippians 4:13 is a favorite passage of many Christians. We love the idea of unlimited strength, of being able to face every challenge with the assurance of coming out on top. But there’s a danger in reducing scriptures into slogans. We risk diluting the Word of life to witty ways of advertising “the blessed life.”

That’s clearly not what Paul had in mind. Before he crescendos into confidence, Paul acknowledges the many shortcomings of self. Inner resolve hadn’t equipped him for either a happy or sad state of affairs. Paul knew that whether he was abounding or bottoming out, his strength had to be received.

We don’t select which of the “all things” we want to do and then plow ahead, presuming on Christ’s endorsement. Rather we rely on Christ’s strength in “all things”—the good and the bad—that cross our path, knowing that His grace truly is sufficient.

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Habakkuk: Moving from Fear to Faith (Revive Our Hearts series)

Scripture taken from The CSB