Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

When I think about this verse, I think about doing the impossible. I think about setting new records or climbing the highest mountain or defying the laws of gravity. I think of that verse in Matthew that says I could tell a mountain to move from here to there and it would.

I think about power, strength, wonder, achievement.

And when you look at the author of this verse, it might seem like that’s exactly what it means.

The apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians while in prison for the second time.

The first time, recorded in the book of Acts, Paul notably befriended his fellow prisoners, singing hymns and praying with them. Then a great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison, throwing every door open and breaking the chains of every prisoner.

Aha! you might say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even break out of jail!

But alas, this was not what Paul was referring to.

In fact, after the earthquake, rather than make a quick escape, all of the prisoners—including Paul—remained inside. They waited patiently for the jailer to return, and then comforted him when he fearfully found the doors open.

No, when Paul writes this verse in Philippians, he is referring to an entirely different kind of strength. But to understand it, we must look at the preceding verses.

Verse 11 starts as follows: Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Here we can see that the anything Paul refers to—the power we can mine from the famous verse that follows—is contentment. And in today’s world, that is perhaps one of the hardest things to find.

But Paul says that with Jesus he can be content in ANY situation—that it’s the secret for every situation. Because with Jesus—with faith in what he’s done for us and is doing for us every day—we can find peace. We can trust that the path we’ve been put on is the right one, the purpose we’ve been given is an important one, and the life we’ve been given is one we don’t have to earn or find perfection in.

With this verse, Paul says he can cast out the call for more more more, the temptation of not quite enough, the bitter pill of envy and comparison. Because with Jesus, we can find wonder in our own lives, in our own blessings, in our own circumstances. With Jesus we can feel wealthy even with little. With Jesus, we can find contentment in any situation.

And while yes, it’s important to note that God can do the impossible, this verse serves as a reminder that a life of faith is not about power and achievement. It’s not about what you can do, it’s about what God can do in you. And sometimes that’s provide peace in a place that doesn’t make sense. Sometimes that’s giving the gift of contentment when the world demands you can’t be.

I love the Message translation of verse 13, it says,

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” Philippians 4:13

Wherever you are, whoever you are, I hope you find peace in this verse today. May it get you through anything.