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Philippians 4:13
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 is about finding our joy and strength in Jesus, and not in life’s circumstances. Some preach that this verse is about overcoming problems and that God can do everything, but the lesson from this verse is different.
Paul actually teaches the contrary. His joy does not come from circumstance, his joy is found in Christ alone. Even in his weakness and suffering, Paul knew it was Christ’s strength and counsel that led him and renewed him, and subsequently, us. In this way, it doesn’t matter if you are unemployed or unable to pay various bills, joy is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore not tied to prosperity.
Worldly problems will plague us until the day we die. Paul emphasized this not only in his writings but by his very life. We cannot have true joy if it is found in material things that can be taken from us. However, when Christ is our joy, then nothing can steal Him, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. Philippians 4:13 means finding our joy and strength in Jesus, and not in life’s circumstances.
