The Strength to Face Anything

“I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (Common English Bible)

We are born with a desire to face any challenge, any obstacle, any difficulty on our own. Young children are proof of that when we hear from their mouths, “I do it!” Mastery over the circumstances of life is a healthy, normal desire. No one wants to feel inadequate, weak, or defeated. Many of us may be quick to come alongside another who struggles and help. We want to be there for others. We are inspired by stories of people who lend a hand, who listen and love deeply, or provide guidance for someone who seems to have lost their way. In each of those scenarios, we are the stronger one who comes to the aid of another. These circumstances demonstrate to us that we are adequate, that we are the strong one. Yet, as we are placed in those situations where we must acknowledge our own weaknesses, or own need for help, we feel small, even powerless. We are disappointed in ourselves because we are found to be inadequate.

These are the moments when Paul’s words to the Philippians are helpful. Paul declares that he can do all things! Sounds like a two-year-old child: “I do it!” Except, what flows next from Paul’s thoughts demonstrates a maturity far more developed than a two-year-old: “Through the power of the one who gives me strength.” Paul’s confidence in facing every struggle, every difficulty is “through the power” of another—through the power of Christ. Rather than feeling diminished or ashamed that he is inadequate, Paul boasts that Jesus Christ is mindful of Paul. Jesus, who is, “in the form of God” (Philippians 2:6), humbled himself so that he may dwell among people like Paul, sharing life with Paul, and finally pouring Jesus’ power into Paul for enduring anything life may throw at Paul. That special and empowering relationship with Jesus remains available for each one of us, promises Paul.

An attitude that is often taken among people of faith is that they simply do not understand prayer. They don’t oppose prayer. They simply don’t understand it. Consequently, one of two things is the result: Either they recite brief prayers taught to them as a child over a meal or at bedtime with little expectation of a positive outcome, or they don’t bother to pray at all. Living life with a vital and expectant sense that Jesus is very present is absent. They may go to church. They may have given mental assent to the teachings of the faith. They may even strive to live in a manner that is taught by the faith. But, in all honesty, they feel that they are on their own. Life is to be lived by their own strength and discipline, or they will be defeated. In moments of exhaustion, they may utter to themselves that they can’t do it and that is that. They accept defeat. Those are the moments that they fail to avail themselves of the power that is available to them in Jesus.

There is another attitude that is seen among people of faith. They are the ones who believe Paul. They believe that Jesus is present in their lives, and they set to use the resources of the faith as best as they can—particularly the resource of prayer. They don’t have a greater grasp of how prayer works than anyone else. They simply accept that Paul found prayer to be effective and that is enough for them. Rather than making any scientific inquiry as to the veracity of prayer, they pray. They pray with expectation. They pray, open to hearing from God even if what they hear isn’t what they desired. They pray not because they seek to leverage God’s power for their own purposes but to understand how God seeks to align them with God’s holy purposes for them. They pray, wanting to experience that this great adventure of life is not lived only by their own strength, or wisdom, or personal desire. And as they pray, as they exercise this conversation with God, what they find is strength.

Joy,