I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13)
Recently a good friend and I visited her son at college. The first day there, we biked twenty miles through a state
preserve. We saw some large alligators, petted wild horses, and saw a beautiful deer, which was standing just a few feet off the bike trail! It was exhilarating, a God-blessed day!
The second day we went with my friend's son, and one of his friends,
to climb a manmade rock-climbing wall. My friend’s son climbed
first. He scurried up the wall without a care. The son’s friend, who
was terribly afraid of heights, went next. She climbed slowly and
methodically, wanting to stop and turn back several times. But we
called out from below, “You can do it. Just one more step, you’re
almost there!” Shaking and trembling, she made it to the top; and
then carefully repelled down the wall. We were so proud of her. Even
though she was weak-kneed, she was proud of herself! Then it was my
turn. I said, “I’ll give it a try, but don’t expect me to go
more than about eight feet!” I started up. “Hey this is easy.” I
thought to myself. But about twelve feet up I froze. I couldn’t go
further! Even though I was safely harnessed in, with my friends
holding the rope and cheering me on, I couldn’t budge another step
up. Protesting my pleas to stop, they allowed me to come down. I was
proud of myself for having gone as far as I had, but I wished I had
overcome my fear. Then it was my friend’s turn to climb. She too was
fearful, but made it to the top, and repelled down like a pro!
Later that day, as we drove home, we talked about our climb. I told
her that I wasn’t as afraid as I thought I would be, but that I felt
out of control, so that’s why I stopped. Then she said, “It was
preordained that you wouldn’t go all the way up.”
“What do you
mean?” I said.
“You pre-ordained the outcome. You determined before you started, that you wouldn’t go to the
top. In fact, you even pre-determined where you would stop.”
(I had
made it a bit further than eight feet, but I had to admit that she was
right, which made me think, how might I do this in other areas of my
life?)
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, told them how much
he appreciated their support, because when he went out from Macedonia,
the Philippian church was the only church that supported him. He said,
“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your
concern for me. . . . I am not saying this because I am in need, for I
have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it
is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned
the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do
everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians
4:10-13)
Contentment is to be at ease, peaceful, or happy. And when
we’re content, we can’t be fearful! Paul had learned to be content through
the circumstances in his life. God taught him that he could be trusted. Paul knew God cheered him on, and provided for every situation. He understood this, believed it, and spoke God’s power into his life!
Before my rock-climbing adventure, I wouldn’t have applied Philippians 4:13 to that event. That is until my friend made that profound statement, “You preordained the outcome.”
We can limit ourselves with our words and thoughts. But as children of God, we
need to speak his power into our lives. The next time I face an impossible “wall” to climb, rather than make a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure, my prayer will be,
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Prayer: “Dear God, help me trust you in any and every situation of my life. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.”
