Does the Bible Say “G-d Will Give Me The Strength to do Anything?”

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once.” Philippians 4:8-16

We see, again, the tendency or the temptation to take a single verse and apply to us or to our lives outside of its context. For the text to be completely understood, you must read what comes before and what comes after. This is not about the Lord granting you the strength to do anything: I could pray for G-d to give me the strength today to climb Mt.Everest, but all of the prayer, vitamin pills and sit-ups will not get me to that summit. Paul says: “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need…” . He is saying to these people from Philippi that G-d grants him the strength, no matter the circumstance, to persevere. This is an expression of strength of understanding a person’s place and lot in life; of growing through the many ups and downs in life; of living into and through all that life has given. Whatever life may continue or will give to Paul in the future, he will be able to endure and thrive with G-d’s strength. He is not boasting of what he might achieve, he is giving G-d due for all that he has endured and might endure in the future. That is completely different than praying for the strength to become CEO of your company, or to score the winning goal in your soccer game.

So if you ever find yourself persecuted for your faith, oppressed for your beliefs, or imprisoned unfairly because you have stood up for your faith, it’s appropriate to remember and quote Paul’s example, and his words in this verse. Shouting it at the church softball game so that you can Samson-strength the ball over the tree line, or grunting it out at the gym in an effort to bench 300? Not so much.

Pastor Dave