This week, FoF had the privilege of having Daniel M., who flew in all the way from Arizona, to speak to the body of Christ about "Strength".
Our meeting started off as usual with a little ice-breaker from our emcee, Juice. He tickled our brains with the question: "what animal would you choose that best describes you?" We went around sharing one by one and the animal selections ranged from sloth to iguana to koala bears. Which animal best describes YOU?
After the ice-breaker, Andrew led the group into worship to come before the throne of God in remembrance of just how much we owe to Christ's death and resurrection and how much of our joy and satisfaction hinges upon our heart's delight in this truth.
Then it was the meat of the night. Daniel M. shared from Philippians 4:10-13 where Paul was talking about being content in all circumstances and how he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. Daniel clarified that this strength Paul is talking about isn't a physical strength that transforms Christians into superhuman specimens who can run through brick walls or take a bullet in a chest without a bulletproof vest. Of course, these are absurd examples.
The strength that Paul is speaking here coexists with faith and our understanding of future grace. This strength is deeply rooted in a faith that grew out of experiences of past grace and trusts in future grace. It is supernatural in a sense that our strength comes from the full assurance that God who has led us in this life thus far, will continue to strengthen us and lead us till the end.
In no way did Paul discredit the reality of how tough life can be. In verse 10-12, Paul shared that he had experienced different spectrum in this life: to be full and to be hungry, to have abundance and to be in need, to be alone and to be supported by people. But despite the great fluctuations that happened in his life, Paul shares that Christ is what dictates his everything, and thus he learned to be content. He refused to let the winds and waves be his reality, rather, his eyes are fixed on Jesus. Christ IS his reality above all things.
The misconception or lie that I fall into when I read this passage is this.
Oh Paul was able to be content in all circumstances, so he is commanding me to be content when I'm faced in difficult situations. I can't feel discouraged, alone, worried, or fearful. That way of thinking jumps into a conclusion in which it nullifies the natural emotions we go through as human beings. The fact that Paul himself "had learned" how to be content meant that it was a learning process. Paul is not commanding us to be simply content without understanding personally how or why we should even be content. Burying the emotions and will ourselves towards being content will only lead to blind faith and will not sustain. Ironically, the act of being content will cease to be an act of faith but rather an act of works.
I think most of us, including myself, live in such a way in which we negate the need for God's deliverance. As human beings, we naturally desire control and security and build our lives around it. We like to be sufficient and for things to go according to our own agenda. But my plea to all of us is this: that we may live in such a way where we NEED to cling on to the promises of God, where if God does not deliver, it will be the end of us. Paul lived in such a way, and he learned the secrets of being content and found strength through Christ in the process. I am not telling you to seek sufferings, but rather, not to be afraid of sufferings. And in times of difficulty, allow your spirit to come before the throne of God with all the heart's emotions in the same way that David did in his psalms. There at the throne, I guarantee that you will find strength from the Father Himself.
This is where rubber meets the road. This is where all the promises of God ceases to be just fine prints on a piece of paper but rather precious words that we cherish in our hearts, each promise accompanied by a personal testament of God's deliverance and faithfulness. This is how the foundation of our faith will grow.
