Philippians 4:13 – ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’ (NIVUK).
I have strength for all, in him who makes me strong. (useful trans.)
For all things I have strength, in Christ's strengthening me; (useful trans.)
The word commonly translated as “strength” in Philippians 4:13 has many applications across the New Testament. It doesn’t just describe being physically, mentally or spiritually strong, mighty or powerful. Jesus, in the synoptic gospels, and Paul and Peter (in Acts and in their Letters), James and the author of Hebrews employ this word variously (22 occurrences). One to remember is the greatest of all commandments, that is, to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength’ (Mark 12:30).
Most helpful to get a fuller idea of how the word is variously used in the New Testament is to look up its opposite, not its antonym, but in those sentences where it has a negation - i.e. “not able,” “not viable,” “Of no avail,” “Not in force,” “Not good for much ‘except being thrown out and trodden under foot’ as in salt that loses its saltiness.”
While St Paul does use the phrase ‘all things’ he is not referring to absolutely all things (i.e. anything), but rather to ‘all this’, that being, all the degrees between extreme wealth and extreme poverty that may otherwise help or hinder him in his service as an apostle to the Gentiles. He says that he has learned to be content in any and all situations, saying to the Christians in Philippi,
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-13).
Paul isn’t content because he just one day decided to be content. Nor did his contentment come from some philosophy that taught you have to take the good and the bad or the ups and downs of life “on the chin”, either “ginning and bearing it” or just “keeping your chin up” or conversely “born with a silver spoon in your mouth” and life “being plain sailing” or alternately to be initiated into some Gnostic secret that opens up the path towards contentment. Rather, Paul knew what the Stoics did not – an external power that by grace, through faith, comes to live within the life of the Christian and empowers them in contentment – come what may. As Pastor Peter Koehne wrote in his Philippians Chi Rho commentary, ‘The true secret of Paul’s strength to carry out his apostolic work, and to bear the hardship that such work entailed, is found in union with Christ, as Paul himself would say, ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10).
So this verse was immediately applicable to St Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles and is also applicable to all Christians, not necessarily in their goals and ambitions, however godly they may be, but certainly in the there-and-then of their God-given vocations. In relation to his unique vocation as an apostle Paul wrote,
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness – 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:25-29).
By grace, through faith, Jesus comes to live within you as much as he did for St Paul. Whatever tasks are involved in your vocations, Jesus will empower you in your endeavours to fulfil them. Are you a spouse looking after your ill partner? Are you a parent caring for your child or grandchild? By grace, through faith, you can say with St Paul, ‘I have strength for all, in him who makes me strong.’ For such strength is not unique or peculiar to Paul; it is available to all who in faith draw on Christ’s love and forgiveness, and the power of his resurrection. St Paul writes, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20).
Additional info from: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/philippians-4-13#:~:text=Philippians%204%3A13%20is%20one,through%20Him%20who%20strengthens%20me.%E2%80%9D
‘This verse is so misused because many Christians interpret “all things” as “anything,” not “all the things Paul has talked about.” It’s not a blanket endorsement that God will support anything we set out to do and empower us to do whatever impossible things we can imagine. It’s an assurance that we can do whatever God calls us to do, not whatever we decide to do.
This isn’t a biblical exhortation you can stamp on whatever goals you have professionally, personally, or physically. It’s an encouragement that God can give you the strength to be content, no matter what.’