Paul could genuinely write these words - and mean them - because of what his experiences with God had taught him about the God he was serving and we are serving. These verses show what his focus and priorities were because of the hardship, because of being in dire straits, of lacking even food and adequate clothing at times.
His response was not to murmur and complain like Israelites - physical and even spiritual. Instead, because Paul was totally on board with God's project of being completely remade in His image, and because Paul had come to know God, he could be content, knowing that what was truly needed would be supplied, and that what was not supplied must not truly be needed for God's will to come to pass in his life.
Paul had fully surrendered to God's guidance and oversight of all his circumstances, and this produced a wonderful fruit within him: peace. That peace came through learning to focus on God rather than his circumstances. This allowed Paul to be content. He was not agitated or anxious over the uncertainty, or over what could go wrong, or what was lacking. He had contentment because his focus was above the sun, which allowed him to take all the things under the sun in stride. His life was built on the Rock. Because of God's unique calling, he had more storms of life than probably all of us, yet he also had an internal stability because Christ was real to him.
His final statement here in verse 13 brings in Unleavened Bread: The source of Paul's strength was not himself. It couldn't be. It was Christ, the Bread of Life. It was food that the world would not accept because it seemed to be lacking the ingredients for a fulfilling life. Yet Paul saw it differently. He sought out this Bread because he understood its true worth. As a result, he had strength and he had internal peace and stability, even though outwardly it seemed like he was always buffeted about. The unconverted do not understand this. They believe rejoicing only comes from good times and abundance. Yet God says there can be rejoicing in trials, or when we are abased, or when normally good things are lacking.
He says it very clearly. I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. The peace of God and working with God produced contentment and internal peace.
And so God was there. If you walk with God, God has to be there, and He is. He is there all the time.
And he learned that with God by his side, even in the worst situation, he could be joyous. You wonder why James said that we can have joy in our trials. It is for this reason. Because God is there. He is working with us. He is helping us.
And so if God is in charge, the great Sovereign of the universe, let us sing a hymn. I mean, that is what he did in jail, right, in Philippi? He and Silas. "Hey, get up there and lead songs. We want to sing a hymn." They had joy in the midst of a very frightening circumstance. He and Silas could have been killed. But no, they made the best of it and sang. He could do this because Christ was there to strengthen him. And that is what he says here. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." He can endure any kind of problem, any kind of terrible thing, because Christ's strength is stronger than anything that man has to put up against him and he can be content.
Now flip over to Philippians 4, verse 10. Paul had many reasons to get discouraged. His letters and the book of Acts record many of his unpleasant predicaments, yet he did not let adverse circumstances depress him. After five shipwrecks, he did not let it get to him. I am still bewildered at that one.
We receive some encouragement through the example of perseverance set by the apostles during their lives. But most of our comfort comes through Jesus Christ, our trustworthy Source of encouragement.
Please turn over to II Corinthians 1, verse 5. Because we share in Christ's sufferings, we also share in the comfort God provides that helps us endure such suffering.
