Philippians 4:13

 



I have been hearing about this verse a lot lately. 

It is the youth theme for youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the year 2023. 

It is part of our study of the New Testament this year. 

And it fascinates me with its layers. For such a short verse it has caused me a good deal of consternation. If I can do all things, why can't I get good grades on my homework? Or, why can't I keep the house clean?! Get to appointments on time? Never say snarky things?? 

Something must be wrong with me. 

Not so. 

I heard in a conversation recently that "it says you can do all things, but you can't do everything". 

*lightbulb*

Ahhhhh. That feels better. I had really wondered over the years why we would be told we could do everything when clearly I wasn't the only human feeling like I could barely get through the day sometimes. 

Then, I was reading the book of Phillippians as part of my study of the New Testament this year. 

I saw the verses just before verse 13, and they opened up a whole new layer of understanding for me. 

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/bible/philippians-4-13 

Woah. Paul is so confident that he can do anything because he's done a lot of things and seen the Lord empowering him through them. 

Talk about confidence. And trust. 

Paul has been there, done that, and has such a solid trust in the Lord's power to see him through whatever comes, that his confidence is unshakable. 

Life goal: have such a strong trust in the Lord that nothing shakes me. 

I've also noticed that some translations of the Bible say "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" and some say "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me". 

After pondering that for a bit, I realized that both words can be accurate. Christ is the one who strengthens us to do all the things we are called on to do. We also gain a lot of confidence and personal strength as we do the things and as we see the Lord's power at work in our lives. 

We are strengthened both by Christ and by going through experiences with Him. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

havening

Image
My beautiful, yummy smelling beeswax candle. ❤️ Just got it out yesterday. Today I want to share with you something that my therapist has taught me about helping my body feel safe/calming anxiety.  I've been honestly dreading the end of January. Based on how my body has been "remembering" traumatic events around Daniel's birth, life and death I was afraid of what might come up on his death day (Jan 29).  What happened? Nothing. I was amazingly fine. In fact inshd a great week at work that week. Early February, however, I find myself sleeping poorly with bizarre nightmares and extra large panic attacks during the day. Not to mention fatigue and foggy unfocused thoughts. 🤷‍♀️ Delayed response, I suppose.  This is the first year I've approached these dates with any degree of awareness and it's been fascinating (and so good) to allow space for the trauma of Daniel's life as well as his death. It's easy to think of his death and the aftermath ...
Read more

my other child

Image
Last night we went to Katherine Applegate's One and Only Family tour organized by Red Balloon Bookstore. 😍 I've recently discovered Katherine Applegate's books and I just love her style of writing. I listened to most of them during my last few months working at a middle school when I was really struggling with my health and didn't know what was going on. So when I heard she was going to be in town I had to go! She is a lovely person and does a fabulous presentation. I loved hearing from her and was mostly successful in ignoring how woozy I felt during the presentation.  Standing in line to meet her I tried not to think about how weird my knees felt, and that my legs were starting to shaky. My mind immediately jumps to the worst conclusions when something is off with my body.  I reflected on my week. I have had a nagging sense of overtired fatigue, but brushed it off in favor of doing what I wanted to do.  Actually it has been several weeks that I've been letting my...
Read more

grief pangs

Image
There was a beautiful talk in the Saturday evening session of General Conference. The man shared powerful stories of using the priesthood power of God to bless his family - raising two members of his immediate family from death on two separate occasions.  I went to bed early that night. I've been extra tired lately.  Or was it hearing that story again that moved me to tune out of the conference early?  I believe in the priesthood power of God. I am happy for those who see their loved ones' lives preserved and are spared the pain of grief for a time.  I also know that I am not one of those people.  My children's lives were not preserved.  I was not spared the pain of child loss.  And it doesn't mean I am any less, less beloved, or lacking in faith.  Sometimes I hear of miraculous recoveries and wonder - did I really do all I could? Was there a question I could have asked, or a request I could have made?  My brain fills with some form of disson...
Read more