Sermon by Pastor Nathan Johnson, August 24, 2025
In a world that often feels like an incubator for anxiety, apprehension, and alarm, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Many of us find ourselves picking up unwanted companions like doubt, distress, and despair as we navigate our daily lives. Yet, amidst this tumultuous landscape, some individuals seem to possess an uncanny ability to “make it without losing it.” What’s their secret?
The answer lies in divine empowerment – a concept beautifully illustrated in the words of the Apostle Paul: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This powerful statement, often misused in popular culture, isn’t about fulfilling personal dreams or guaranteeing success in worldly endeavors. Rather, it’s a testament to facing life’s difficulties with unwavering faith and inner strength.
Paul’s life was far from easy. He faced denigration, disenfranchisement, danger, desertion, and detainment. Yet, through it all, he maintained an extraordinary sense of contentment. This contentment wasn’t a stoic disconnection from reality or an “I don’t care” attitude. Instead, it was the ability to maintain equilibrium, balance, and poise regardless of circumstances.
Consider the image of a toy that, no matter how many times you knock it over, always bounces back up. That’s contentment in action – the capacity to maintain coolness, calmness, and collectedness in the face of any circumstance. It’s not about denying the reality of our situations, but rather being free from allowing our circumstances to govern our well-being.
This brings to mind the powerful hymn by Horatio Spafford, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Written in response to tremendous personal tragedy, the lyrics embody the essence of true contentment: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul.”
The source of this remarkable contentment isn’t found in human willpower or positive thinking. It stems from a profound connection to something greater – a “salvific connection” to Christ. Paul’s declaration that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him isn’t about personal achievement, but about divine empowerment.
This empowerment isn’t a one-time event, but a continuous process. The original Greek text uses a present active participle, indicating that Christ himself, in real-time, keeps pouring into us exactly what we need to face each new situation. It’s not about our own strength, but about allowing Christ to work through us, providing the capacity, ability, and efficacy to handle whatever comes our way.
What aspects of Christ provide this strength? Several key elements come to mind:
- His Presence: The assurance that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments.
- His Provision: The confidence that God will make a way, even when there seems to be no way.
- His Power: The knowledge that we are connected to the source of all authority in heaven and earth.
- His Promise: The certainty that God keeps His word and is faithful to His commitments.
- His Plan: The comfort in knowing that God’s design for our lives extends beyond our current circumstances and into eternity.
This divine empowerment is available to anyone who believes. It’s not reserved for the elite or the especially righteous. It’s an open invitation to all who would trust in Christ, accepting what He has done on our behalf.
When we say yes to this offer, something remarkable happens. It’s as if a spiritual moving van arrives in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence within us. This indwelling presence becomes a constant source of strength, pouring into us exactly what we need for each day’s challenges.
Living with this divine empowerment doesn’t mean life will always be easy or that we’ll never face hardships. The Christian life isn’t a guarantee of sunny days and gentle breezes. We’ll still encounter storms, losses, and difficulties. But with Christ as our strength, we can face these challenges with a different perspective and an inner resilience that defies human understanding.
It’s crucial to remember that this strength isn’t about maintaining a façade of having it all together. It’s not about denying our struggles or pretending everything is fine when it’s not. Instead, it’s about finding a deep well of peace and contentment that exists independently of our circumstances – a well that never runs dry because it’s continually replenished by Christ himself.
As we navigate the complexities of life, we’re invited to tap into this divine empowerment daily. It might look like starting each morning with a prayer of surrender, acknowledging our dependence on God’s strength. It could mean pausing throughout the day to realign our hearts with the truth of God’s presence and provision. Or it might involve cultivating a habit of gratitude, recognizing the ways God has sustained us even in difficult times.
Embracing this truth can radically transform how we approach life’s challenges. Instead of being paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by circumstances, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that we’re not relying on our own limited resources. We have access to an unlimited supply of divine strength, poured out fresh each day.
This doesn’t mean we’ll never feel weak or discouraged. Even Paul, with his profound understanding of divine empowerment, experienced moments of struggle. But it does mean that in our weakness, we can find strength. In our discouragement, we can find hope. In our uncertainty, we can find peace.
As you reflect on your own life, consider where you might need this divine empowerment. Are you facing challenges that seem insurmountable? Are you wrestling with doubt or fear? Are you in need of contentment amidst difficult circumstances? Remember, the same power that enabled Paul to find contentment in a prison cell is available to you today.
Take a moment to open your heart to this truth. Invite Christ to pour His strength into you, equipping you for whatever lies ahead. And as you do, may you discover a wellspring of contentment that transcends understanding – a peace that allows you to say, no matter what comes your way, “It is well with my soul.”