I'm amazed at how Philippians 4:13 has been quoted as being some sort of super power for everything we might want to accomplish. In fact growing up that's exactly how it was said to me.

I would be down on myself as I struggled to ride a bicycle, learn my multiplication tables, or climb a tree. In my limited perspective I would just collapse and say, "I can't do this!" The adults in my life would always find great joy in pointing out, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."

As I grew up the things I struggled with became a little more significant and my goals got a little bigger but there was still this voice always cheering me on, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you." I began to wonder through various failures why Christ seemed to strengthen me so little. This led to depression about the state of my relationship with God. I felt as if I was trying really hard and He, well not so much.

If God loved me as much as he and other claimed and my happiness meant anything to Him then He would make it work out the way that would make me happy. The error of this idea became obvious every time I stumbled or my plans fell short. My natural conclusion was that God was not pleased with me and therefore was not strengthening me.

Then I read verses 10 through 12 and they gave 13 a whole new context. My pursuit of happiness changed for ever. I found that if Christ is my center and my all than He strengthens me in the outcomes of my pursuits. He doesn't make everything a gold medal effort. Jesus strength is not my super power to succeed. Jesus strength is what sustains me even when I don't succeed.

I can have joy in my success and in my failures. How? Through Christ who strengthens me. He is enough.

Philippians 4:10-13