“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 Many times, when I quote this scripture to myself or to others, I put the emphasis on all. It is a very comforting scripture, when we face a temptation or a difficult task, to remember that we can do all things through the help of Jesus. But the other day when I quoted this scripture to my daughter, who was having trouble adjusting to a new job and a new work environment, I suddenly realized that the emphasis really should always be on “the through Christ” part of that scripture. Only Jesus enables us to do all things in the first place. We are so much better off when we rely on Him to help us instead of doing things on our own. The emphasis should always be on Christ! The idea is not a new one at all though. I had just been reading John 15 and the idea is all Jesus’. “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5). Jesus makes it very clear that we need to remain in Him and rely on Him all the time, because apart from Him we can’t do anything! If we are living life in our own strength, eventually we will wear out and fall by the wayside. We need to remember that it is only through Christ that we have strength and power for living. “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psa. 121:1). It is the Lord Who strengthens us to face all that life brings to us. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isa. 40:29). God, Himself, promises that He will be near to help us and to strengthen us. “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10). Let’s never forget that it is only through our God that we are able to do all things! “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psa. 73:25-26).