Philippians 4:11-13 reads:
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I have always heard the last of these verses quoted by people who are going through a hard time or about to embark on a journey of faith. "I can do all things through Christ!" they confidently declare, even so bracing for the impact that they are sure are going to take them to the brink of death if not actually through it. There is such great faith to this, and yet there are still greater layers.
This is the kind of faith that I spoke about in this post, which involves a very painful process that we endure because we know that the Promise is worth it and on the other side, we will be glad that we made this choice of faith.
However, as I said in that post, there is a deeper level of faith where we do not hold on to the Promise while suffering needless pain to endure the process. It is that level of faith that I am talking about here.
And it is that level of faith that is described in verses 11 and 12. "...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..."
This does not mean, "I have learned that I can have contentment even while suffering horrible pain or circumstances!"
Rather it means, "It doesn't matter what my circumstances are, I will not suffer."
We are so used to circumstances dictating our experiences and our Realities. It is difficult to think of genuine contentment in the face of things that are not ultimately Real. Death, sickness, suffering of any kind... we see people who are content in those circumstances and we think that they are putting on a brave face or stoically standing strong for others. In some ways, we think they are faking it, and a lot of times they are. This is not to say that they are doing anything wrong. I admire the people who can stand strong in times of trouble even while their insides are falling apart. However, I don't want to do that.
I want to genuinely be content in all things. Whether in death or life, in the present or the future or any other created circumstance, I want to be content in all things. Whether in illusion or Reality, I will be content in all things.
But how? How do we learn to be genuinely at peace and content in every fiber of our being while going through stressful times when we cannot see clearly what is happening, when going through illness or suffering, when watching loved ones die or suffer? Paul said he had "learned" it, but what did he learn?
I think Paul learned Yahweh. I think that Paul found that it didn't matter if he were experiencing illusion, Reality, heights or depths, the possible or the impossible. As long as he was not separated from the love of Christ Yahshua Our Lord, He was content in all things.
As Romans 8:28 says:
In other words:
It does not matter; Christ Loves Us.
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I have always heard the last of these verses quoted by people who are going through a hard time or about to embark on a journey of faith. "I can do all things through Christ!" they confidently declare, even so bracing for the impact that they are sure are going to take them to the brink of death if not actually through it. There is such great faith to this, and yet there are still greater layers.
This is the kind of faith that I spoke about in this post, which involves a very painful process that we endure because we know that the Promise is worth it and on the other side, we will be glad that we made this choice of faith.
However, as I said in that post, there is a deeper level of faith where we do not hold on to the Promise while suffering needless pain to endure the process. It is that level of faith that I am talking about here.
And it is that level of faith that is described in verses 11 and 12. "...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..."
This does not mean, "I have learned that I can have contentment even while suffering horrible pain or circumstances!"
Rather it means, "It doesn't matter what my circumstances are, I will not suffer."
We are so used to circumstances dictating our experiences and our Realities. It is difficult to think of genuine contentment in the face of things that are not ultimately Real. Death, sickness, suffering of any kind... we see people who are content in those circumstances and we think that they are putting on a brave face or stoically standing strong for others. In some ways, we think they are faking it, and a lot of times they are. This is not to say that they are doing anything wrong. I admire the people who can stand strong in times of trouble even while their insides are falling apart. However, I don't want to do that.
I want to genuinely be content in all things. Whether in death or life, in the present or the future or any other created circumstance, I want to be content in all things. Whether in illusion or Reality, I will be content in all things.
But how? How do we learn to be genuinely at peace and content in every fiber of our being while going through stressful times when we cannot see clearly what is happening, when going through illness or suffering, when watching loved ones die or suffer? Paul said he had "learned" it, but what did he learn?
I think Paul learned Yahweh. I think that Paul found that it didn't matter if he were experiencing illusion, Reality, heights or depths, the possible or the impossible. As long as he was not separated from the love of Christ Yahshua Our Lord, He was content in all things.
As Romans 8:28 says:
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
In other words:
For I am convinced that neither the impossible nor the possible, nor created spiritual beings nor authorities nor expressions, nor the present nor the future, nor zoomed in perspectives nor ascended perspectives, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the Love of Yahweh which is in Christ Yahshua our Lord.In other words:
It does not matter; Christ Loves Us.
The things that surround us do not matter if we abide in the love of Christ.
The things that we experience do not matter if we abide in the love of Christ.
The things that we do, say, or think do not matter if we abide in the love of Christ.
The things that we feel, see, hear, or sense do not matter if we abide in the love of Christ.
Christ loves us. We love Him.
The love of Christ is primary. Everything else will fall into place around it. We seek first the King. And in so doing, we are content in all things.
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