Strength for Every Season

04/11/2025

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
– Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

This verse has become a favorite for athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday believers alike. It’s printed on coffee mugs, stitched into gym bags, and quoted in moments of both triumph and challenge. But this verse is more than a motivational slogan. It’s a declaration of dependence, not independence. And to fully grasp the power behind it, we need to understand the context in which Paul wrote it.

Paul wasn’t standing at the top of a podium or basking in success when he penned these words. He was in a prison cell. Stripped of freedom, comfort, and the company of friends, he had every earthly reason to feel defeated. And yet, he wasn’t boasting about his ability to accomplish great feats or chase his dreams. He was talking about something much harder, being content. In the verses before this, he says he has learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. The “secret”? Strength that comes not from himself, but from Christ, peace that didn’t come from his circumstances changing but rather from Christ living in him.

That same strength is available to you.

That phrase, “through him who gives me strength,” is the linchpin. In Greek, it literally means “in the One who empowers me.” Paul didn’t muster up strength; he drew from a well that never ran dry. Jesus was his source of joy in prison, of courage in persecution, of calm in chaos.

This changes how we see success. It changes how we endure suffering. It changes how we wake up each morning, not with dread or fear, but with a quiet confidence: Jesus will strengthen me for whatever today holds.

Maybe today you’re facing a mountain of bills, a relationship that’s unraveling, a doctor’s report that shook your world, or simply the weight of everyday responsibilities. Christ offers you His strength, not so you can do everything on your own, but so you can do everything He’s called you to do with His power flowing through you.

There’s a big difference between self-confidence and Christ-confidence. Self-confidence says, “I’ve got this.” Christ-confidence says, “God’s got this, and I’ve got Him.”

Here are a few things you can do today to help you grasp the “strength” that Paul had.

Spend five minutes in silence with God today.
Not asking. Just receiving. Let Him strengthen your spirit.

Write down a current challenge you’re facing.
Then underneath it, write: “Jesus is my strength for this.”

Tell someone your “secret.” Share how Christ has been your strength in a tough season, and offer to pray with them if they’re going through one.

The same Jesus who gave Paul strength in a dark Roman cell is with you in your boardroom, your hospital room, your kitchen, and your battles. He doesn’t promise to make everything easy. He promises to be enough.

Paul didn’t need a change in his situation to be content. He needed a Savior who was strong enough to carry him through it.

And that’s still true for you and me.

Today, when stress rises or exhaustion hits, don’t default to your own strength. Pause, pray, and say aloud, “I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.” Lean into His power. Let Him carry what you were never meant to hold alone.

Lord, thank You for being my strength when I feel weak and weary. Teach me to rely on You and not on myself. Remind me that You are with me in every season, every struggle, and every victory. Help me to live today with Christ-confidence, knowing You are enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

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