September 13

The Secret

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want; I can do everything through him who gives me strength."Philippians 4:12, 13

Paul had lived through many different situations in his walk as a Christian. He had known abundance and he had known poverty. He had witnessed to kings and he had witnessed to prison guards. In each of these sudden reversals of life, he found the grace of God had reached him and he had learned to be content. Life has ups and downs, but Paul knew there were lessons to be learned in all of life's experiences. He had seen God's hand in even the most adverse of circumstances and seen the marvelous outcome of trusting God in all things. Paul learned that by trusting God in ALL of life, he would be able to face even the most difficult of circumstances because he would not be alone and didn't need to move forward in his own strength. In all of life's experiences, the adverse and the wonderful, Paul knew that the Father was causing him to grow. There can never be a diamond unless it is subjected to intense heat followed by cold. Its beauty and brilliance is only developed through the rapid chemical changes that are brought about by the transition from heat to cold. And so it is in our lives. Unless we are willing to endure the heat as well as the cold, God cannot make something of beauty from us. Let us learn the secret that Paul learned. It matters not what our earthly situation is: it only matters that we have a loving Father who is right there by our side, giving us the strength to move forward to victory!

Father, help us to trust you in all of life's situations. Help us to KNOW that you are with us even in the fire. Remind us that the fire will make us shine with greater brilliance and that it will not last forever. Help us to find the secret of contentment that Paul found and the assurance that we can do everything life throws at us in your strength which is always available to us if we just grab hold of it. Amen