the migrant wife

Social media can be a noisy place. No, I don’t mean the recent reels or trends where people record videos of themselves with a catchy tune playing over it, although they can get quite samey. I mean the carefully curated front that influencers try and create which makes me a bit, eh. As I sit and scroll (and frankly, ignore my other more pressing responsibilities like mopping the kitchen or showing my husband some affection?), I am reminded constantly of what I am not doing, what I don’t have, what I haven’t seen or experienced. Demands from your selfish greed echo the loudest within the chambers of your soul, without the soothing lullabies of gratitude and contentedness to cushion its walls. I suppose, who can be grateful when one doesn’t have decluttering and minimalism down to the smallest detail? who can be content when one can’t even run a 10k? who can relax and be thankful if one doesn’t have a two-storey house with white walls and neutral-toned decor?

Paul seems to have thought about this.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I like to joke that this is the most mis-quoted verse in the Bible. Printed on T-shirts and mugs and bumper stickers, the verse seems like a self-reassuring statement, much like the comment your boss makes about the huge meeting tomorrow that “everything will be okay,” while working till 1:30am the next morning still finalising the slides. We also tend to be quite skeptical of people who claim this verse for themselves. Do they really think that? Really?

However, I think we don’t trust this verse, or whoever is claiming this, because we are confused about what “all things” mean. It does not mean “absolutely everything since the existence of the world.” It does not mean that we can do something dangerously silly and Christ will strengthen and protect you. This verse does not mean that you can have the willpower and discipline to read the Bible for an hour a day for a month because you rely on God’s grace towards you. The latter can be true. It’s just not what this verse teaches.

The context is important:

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:10-13)

Aha! Paul, in verse 13 is giving an answer to a question the reader has. In v10-11, Paul described his neediness and his thankfulness for the Philippian’s willingness and ability to help (at last, it seems, when the opportunity arose). And yet, in the latter part of verse 11, Paul clarified that he was thanking the Philippians not because he needed more from them. He doesn’t.

How? Contentedness. It seems straightforward to Paul. He has learnt how to be grateful in a myriad of circumstances. When he was in need or hungry, he was content. We may never know how, but perhaps he asked the Father for comfort (2 Corinthians 1), or followed Christ’s teaching to rely on God’s provision (Matthew 6:25-34). When he was full and abounded in life, he was content. We may never know how either, but he might have given thanks to God who gave those gifts (a thought echoed also in James1:18) or shared it with others and gave it away (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). How should we live through times like this, whether good or bad? Be content.

But how? this passage crescendos into the climax of the answer: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Even in the darkest times, shipwreck, abandonment, persecution, Christ strengthened him so he could be content through the ordeal, resisting the urge to grumble. In his comfort and periodic success in the gospel, he knew how to be content, drawing on Jesus’ strength to avoid the temptation to be proud and selfish.

We could go one more step – but how? When the wells of my patience run dry in a tough season, how can I tap into this mysterious source of strength to keep me going? Paul has already given the answer. Paulian epistles, often start with the Why. He starts with gospel doctrine and our identity. Our actions are an outworking of our identity, which must first be founded on an accurate understanding of God and His work.

In Philippians, what was it that Paul wanted us to understand about God? One of these themes was the joy of Christ and worthiness of Christ. In the first chapter he maintained that he has joy in the confidence of Christ’s work (1:3-8); he rejoiced in the preaching of Christ’s gospel, regardless of the motives (1:12-18); living to serve Christ by encouraging the church & believers in Philippi was a joy for him (1:19-26).

Then, he mentioned that believer’s conduct should be worthy of the Gospel (1:27-30); Christ is worthy because He has humbled Himself infinitely and therefore was exalted infinitely (2:5-11). When Paul fixed his eyes on the joy of Christ, he must have been able to bear the heaviest sorrow. When he remembered the worthiness of Jesus, he must have felt like the richest man on earth to have Christ!

Oh, to have contentedness as the resounding anthem over one’s life!

I suppose this is why I started this fast. It’s not that social media is bad, or wrong. I think I have been so accustomed to the attention-grabbing sound-bites and auto-repeating reel music, that I forgotten what the still, small voice sounded like. I suppose it is about time that I learn to in to His voice – to know His joy and worthiness better – to live from moment to moment, contentedly.