Commonly Misused Scriptures Pt 3

*This is the third part in a four-part series on commonly misused scriptures.

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

This scripture used to cause quite the quandary for me. Because as I understood it, I could literally do anything as long as I prayed hard enough about it. But I found it wouldn’t work out right for me sometimes. For example, I am not very tall, nor very skinny. But I have always wanted to dunk a basketball. Try as I might, I could never get high enough to jam on a regulation goal. And of course at this point I’ve given up on that dream. Fortunately, I now understand the meaning of this verse and the promise that it contains. Unfortunately (for my hoop dreams), it’s not connected to slamming a basketball.

When Paul wrote Philippians, he did so from a Roman prison. Despite his circumstances though, Paul wrote this letter with a tone of gratitude and encouragement for the believers in Philippi. In the last chapter (4) of this letter, Paul told the people to rejoice in the Lord, and to allow His peace to keep their hearts and minds. He also thanked the Philippians for being concerned for him while he was in prison. Though, as Paul relays, he didn’t want them worrying about him, for he was always content in whatever situations he found himself. He had experienced both plenty and lack, success and suffering, and had learned that he could always find joy and peace as long as he had God. That’s the “anything” that he speaks of. And it applies to us too. Regardless of our situations, we can be full of joy and peace. It may get hard, especially in very trying times, but we can do anything when we rely not on our own strength, but on the unfailing strength of the Lord.