One of my new favorite songs is “Strong Enough” by Matthew West. It was based off of the Bible verse Philippians 4:13, which just so happens to be in my top 3 favorite Bible verses. The song talks about someone going through a tough time and the knowledge that when we feel we have to be strong, really all we need is God’s strength, because He’s strong enough to get us through whatever comes our way.
I’m sure you’ve been through more than enough hard situations. You might be going through one right now. And you probably know the feeling of complete and utter hopelessness; wanting to do something and feeling as if it’s out of your reach. Or maybe you want to give up because you’ve been fighting whatever-it-is for far too long. It’s terrible to feel like you’ve hit rock bottom. But hey, you can only go up from there.
There’s a line in the song that says “Maybe that’s the point, to reach the point of giving up.” I find that not only very poetic, but true. We all have burdens—things from our past, things from the present, and things in the future that worry us to bits. And there comes a time when finally we throw up our hands and say “THAT’S IT! I’m done. I just can’t do it.” Been there. Done that. And the point is to realize that you CAN’T do it. Not on your own. Only God can give us the strength to push on through our trials and tribulations.
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” It’s actually quoted in the song, followed by the words: “I don’t have to be strong enough.” That knowledge has helped me so much in my life, but in a different way than you might think.
You see, I’m a fighter. When someone hurts someone I love or questions my beliefs in some way, shape, or form, my first instinct is to defend what I hold dear and what I know to be true. And I will fight them for as long as necessary. For the longest time I’ve depended on my own strength to get me through stuff. I went through a rough patch of life where I was lied to and betrayed by someone I thought I knew very well. I tried to deal with the situation on my own, and I ended up hurting us both. That was when I realized that my strength alone can’t fix the problem. It can’t do anything, really. I’m not strong enough. But God is.
Now from the very start of a stormy season I will look to the sky and say “Jesus, here comes the rain. I don’t have an umbrella. Can I borrow yours?” And EVERY SINGLE TIME He pulls through. His umbrella doesn’t weaken out on you or blow up when the winds batter you. He gets wet and takes the brunt of the storm for us for the same reason He took all our sins on Himself and died—because He loves us. I can’t say “thank you” enough times to tell Him how grateful I am for His sacrifice.
Not to say that once you give God your problems everything will be fine and dandy. It won’t. Christians don’t have it better off simply because we have God. We still love in a fallen world and we still are fallen people. We might decide on a whim one day that we don’t want the umbrella anymore and drop it on the ground. But God always has a spare. Or two. Or three. Or however many times you drop the umbrella. For those that don’t like analogies—God is always, unconditionally there for you. No matter how many times you turn away from Him, he standing there with arms wide open waiting to be your Strength again.
May you find his Strength, and may “the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Happy Sunday!
3 comments:
I like this post. :) I think your take on it is more what the verse is actually talking about. That song is good but I think it misrepresents. If you look at the context (the verses before it) Paul is talking about his "thorn in the flesh" (which he never explains [though most people think it's his failing eyesight because another epistle is dedicated to someone else])and he's saying how he's learned, no matter what he is, to be content. Then he says he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. Obviously, the verse can apply to multiple situations but I think it's important to remember that it's specifically talking about being content and not wanting, or expecting to get, more and how God can make you content in any situation. So thanks :) This was an awesome post.
Thanks for the insight, Alison! I agree with you, the verse goes deeper if you look at it in context.
I didn't fully explain it in the blog post, but Matthew West actually received a letter from a family going through struggles, and that was the original inspiration for the song. He used Philippians 4:13 as a Biblical way to help get his message of hope across to the family. But your point is very valid :) That verse can mean so many different things at different times in our life. But ultimately it means that Christ is in control. Which is so cool to me. Thank you again!
:D I love this! It's so true. [and that's a great song!]
Post a Comment