Prospering Through Pain

Today’s Text Comes from: 

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Today’s Thoughts from the Scriptures

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison cell in about A.D. 61 to the church in Philippi. Joy and gratitude are prevalent themes, and given his situation, we can learn a thing or two about thankfulness from this ancient text.

Paul’s letter was nearing its end as he wrote verse 12, saying,

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

In essence, Paul was revealing a profoundly simple truth: he understood the secret to contentedness, which was Jesus. When Paul faced dismal conditions and ruthless jailers, he was strengthened through Christ. When he had plenty and wasn’t being beaten or starved or shipwrecked, he was again being strengthened through Christ. Paul recognized this, that Christ is infinitely valuable, and therefore, in any situation, he possessed the most prized spiritual joy in the entire universe (2 Corinthians 6:10b).

That means he had everything, he still had nothing compared to Christ. Like mere trinkets set aside a thousand kings’ crowns. And yet, when he was lacking, even to the point of death, he still had everything in Jesus, the source of all life and eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Paul prospered through pain or through pleasure because he knew where real wealth resides.

There was never a situation Paul couldn’t face because there was never a situation in which Paul was left to fend for himself. Our God goes ever before us, God is always at work in us, and always has works to bring to completion through us.

Can you prosper through pain as well as pleasure? Do you have a skewed view of prosperity and hardship? Realize today that Christ is our ultimate treasure, and there is nothing that compares to his worth. Its one thing to say that, and another thing entirely too honestly repeat, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Read the book of Philippians today and pray for your mind to be transformed as Paul’s was.