Philippians 4:13 NASB I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 AMP I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose-I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
Isaiah 40:28-31 NASB [28] Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. [29] He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. [30] Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, [31] Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
I love that verse in Philippians 4, especially in those moments when my humanity has been stretched to the point of weariness. It is particularly at those times that I am reminded that I can keep going, not by self-determination, but because I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Grammatically that verse should be translated like this: “I can always and continually do all things IN CHRIST, who continuously infuses me with His power.” I am in union with the One who doesn’t grow weary or tired, and according to 1 Thessalonians 5:24, the one who calls me to do something is the one who will do it through me.
There is nothing sinful about getting tired physically, but as people in Christ, there should be something supernatural about us at all times. I have found that when I grow weary, I become an easy target for the enemy to intensify the warfare. He wants me to give into frustration, impatience, and complaining, but the Holy Spirit tells us through Paul that “when I am weak, then I am strong,” for “in my weaknesses, His strength is perfected.”
The language of Philippians 4:13 states that being in Christ continually strengthens me moment by moment. That is a reality, whether I take hold of it by faith or not. The Christian life is lived by faith in every area of our lives, and that which is real in Christ only becomes a reality in my experience when I trust. What I take, He undertakes.
The next time you feel spent, yet you know the task in front of you is not finished, remember that you are in union with Christ, and therefore, in Union with His strength that is working in you now, and by faith, thank Him that His strength is your strength to carry on. Remember, He doesn’t give us strength; He is our strength, and as we believe, that which is true is manifested.