Must Be Nice

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

This is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible partly because it is quoted so much, but also because it reminds us of the power of Christ. But until this morning I didn’t realize the position it held in Scripture, and the context to which it was referring. It is more of a ‘drop the mike’ moment instead of a ‘magic bullet for all of life’s situations.’ Paul had just written a letter to the Philippians explaining the learned practice of contentment. So, when he ended the paragraph regarding the different seasons he had lived out, Philippians 4:13 was more of a period to the paragraph. No need for another thought except that only in and through Christ we can experience true contentment.

One of the greatest barriers to contentment is comparison. Comparison to another person’s life will always chip away at our contentment. It used to be we would only have these ‘must be nice’ moments when we would go to school…to work…to church. But because of social media we have 24/7 access to compare our lives to others. Must be nice …to have that spouse…to have that job…to travel to those places…to have those clothes…to live in that place...to have those children. I don’t have enough strength in my fingers to type all my secret ‘must be nice’ thoughts. But these thoughts that are shared by all people are the natural bend of humanity. ‘Generations of people have struggled with letting comparisons kill their contentment.’ What Matters Most, Karen Ehman, p. 148. Paul explained that ‘everywhere and in all things, he learned both to be full and to be hungry…he learned to succeed and to suffer many needs’ (v.12). He learned to be content in whatever state he was in. We must train ourselves how to be satisfied with where we live, what we have and what we are doing in each season. This training comes as a result of spending time with Christ, and allowing Him to work in and through the season we are in. Our circumstances are not unknown to God. He not only has a plan and purpose for each season, but a great plan. There is great work being done in the set of circumstances we find ourselves in today. If we must compare and try to imitate, let us imitate those who patiently waited on the Lord.

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart." Gal 6:9