A lot of Christians know Philippians 4:13. It's a popular verse for posters, Bible bookmarks, t-shirts, home decor, athletes' eye black, and anywhere else someone needs a bit of encouragement to make it through difficult days. It may be, though, that many of us miss an important part of what the apostle Paul wants to express in that verse.
Paul's idea is not one of personal empowerment, though there is nothing wrong with that. Instead, Paul is talking about something else many of us struggle with today: Contentment.
I appreciate that Paul doesn't suggest contentment comes naturally. He says, "I have learned to be content." That tells me contentment is a spiritual discipline.
We often compare our lives to those of others. Or we assume that happiness is a new this-or-that, a promotion, or just a bit of good luck away. As a result, God's goodness depends on whether our circumstances improve.
Paul would have had every reason to think like that. He knew success and hardship, abundance and need. But on his journey, he discovered that contentment comes from trusting Christ in every circumstance.
Contentment, then, is a freedom. Our peace is not held hostage by whether our prayers are answered or if everything works out the way we want it to. We can hope for more without believing we can only have joy when "more" comes.
What I've learned is that contentment is an ongoing lesson. Times of plenty teach us not to cling too tightly. Times of need teach us that we need God's presence more than possessions.
So, let today be another opportunity for you to learn contentment. To be sure, you are not settling for less in life. You're learning that Christ remains faithful whether today feels full or empty.
Stay blessed...john
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