I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
So does that mean all things?
Are there conditions?
Are there limitations?
How do I receive that strength that is referred to here?
According to James Strong in his Exhaustive Concordance the Greek word "pas" means all, every, all things, every thing. So, all.
I'm not feeling very capable of handling the load I have. I have probably taken on things that don't belong in my schedule. But then there is very little that I can see as extra. Perhaps you can relate to this? There are days when I feel like I just cannot do a good job at anything because I am spread so thin.
And so between laundry, dishes, bookkeeping at the business, running to Va once or twice a month, being a parent of two teenagers (you'd think I could do that blindfolded by now, wouldn't ya' but nah, not a chance), researching and writing papers for my degree, trying to eat healthy and exercise (who knew how much effort and time that takes!), writing my adoption book and writing my novels (yes, I have one about done and 2 others begun), then there's the scrapbooking consultant job I signed onto (creative memories), not to mention husband, adult children, grandchildren, and friends, and of course writing a blog weekly (Stop laughing!, no really, I do try), research for the books, and is there time to relax (well, if you look at my face book activity and my video viewing you would think there's plenty). In all honesty though, I know this is do-able. I just need proper expectations and I need to meet a few conditions and understand the limitations that I see applied and implied in this scripture and connected verses.
Paul wrote this from a jail cell. How is someone hopeful whose writing with prison guards outside the door? Paul was. It was possible for him and for me in my circumstances because my ability to do all things is not based on my ability but on Christ Jesus who gives me strength.
So wait, back up a minute, conditions and limitations? Yes, I believe there is. First Paul makes it clear that this is based on his relationship with Jesus and on his understanding of who he is in him. "through Jesus Christ". Jesus said it also in John 15:5 "He that abideth (to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stay, tarry) in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (no thing)." If I abide, if I live in that place, state, relation of "him in me and me in him" then I can do all things, and if I don't live in that place, then well, I can do nothing. So the condition is to abide in Christ and the limitation is that if I don't live in that place then this doesn't apply to me.
In another place the psalmist counsels the reader to "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." But what has that to do with this? Well, the desires of my heart were exactly what is so heavy for me right now. The weight of raising two adopted teenagers when I could be done parenting (in this level anyway) and fully embracing my grammyhood without contest with my mommyhood is one of those things. Teenagers, in case you have never dealt with any, are for many purposes tall, strong, mouthy two year olds. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh . . . on second thought, no I'm not. But that's a topic for another blog day. The degree is ofcourse the delight of my heart, but right now it is really a weight to try to find the time to research well, and write well, the papers that represent my thoughts and to do them in a timely fashion (which is not happening at all). But they are and have been the prayful, hunger of my heart for a long time. With the blessing comes the responsibility within and staying in that place of delighting my self in Him, realizing that he after all really is the true and deepest desire of my heart and in that I can do nothing apart from him. Why would I want to?
So the condition is to delight in the Lord and the limits are that he (not me providing it for myself or through anyone else) will give (but it does not promise how or when), he will give and in his strength.
Ok, one more. Nehemiah 8:10 "the joy of the Lord is your strength." He said to Israel mourn not, because the people wept when they heard the words of the law. But their leader told them this day was holy so don't weep, the joy of the Lord is your strength. Our days are equally holy before him for we have entered a sabbath rest with the resurrection of Christ and in that holy rest there is a place of joy for the Lord has borne our sorrow and shame and redeem us to be his own, restored us to right relationship, and called us his bride. How could I not find a place of joy in that?
I don't know if I will ever find a way to really balance this life I have. I don't know if I will live one day when I don't forget or neglect something. I don't know if any of this will matter to me in ten years. But I do know that I can do it. Not because I am strong and capable, but because I recognize that I am weak and useless aside from Jesus who delights in giving me strength and ability to do what is beyond me. He knows the deepest desires of my heart and has over and over given me the joy of seeing them come to life. I have living proof of that daily each morning as my kids rise and call me "mom". I have proof of that each time I write a paper and send it in, one more done, one step closer to the dream. And I have it in his Word. What else could I possibly need for encouragement or proof?
