LISTEN ONLINEIn between corporate jobs, Russell found himself working on a chicken farm for the minimum wage. It was a thankless, boring and unbelievably smelly job that didn’t even pay the bills.
“That’s it, Lord, I’m done.” he snapped one afternoon, his heart raging. “I can’t put one more egg into one more crate!” At that very moment, his co-worker announced that he had to leave early: “You can do my eggs too, right?”
Instantly, Philippians 4:13 popped into Russell’s mind: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” But instead of being comforted, he felt infuriated. I can’t do this! I don’t have any strength!
When the apostle Paul wrote these words, he too admitted that it didn’t happen naturally: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (v. 12). He didn’t rely automatically on Jesus for the strength to be content. Such strength is available, but we have to learn to draw upon it.
It’s often in difficulty, being “hungry” or “in want” (v. 12), that we learn to rely moment-by-moment on the strength and grace that Jesus promises to all His people. This was the lesson God had in mind for Russell: when your strength fails, draw upon His. Perhaps today, when you feel frustrated or overwhelmed, you too can begin by admitting your need of the strength that only Christ can supply. It’s inexhaustible, and it’s available—always.