A little bit of Paul and a little bit of Psalms combine this morning to awaken awe and promote peace. How come? Because through my readings, the Spirit drives home a secret.

First, Paul. He’s wrapping up his letter to the saints at Philippi, rejoicing that in a tangible way they have been able to show their concern for him as they’ve had opportunity to meet some of his need. And yet, Paul says, “I don t have a sense of needing anything” (Php. 4:11a MSG).

In fact, Paul continues to write . . .

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:11b-13 ESV)

Twice Paul declares, I have learned.

First, he had learned to be content. Life experiences had increased his knowledge of how to reduce felt needs and walk independently of changing circumstance. By use and practice, in situation after situation, through season after season, he became increasingly informed as to how to look beyond his fluctuating place in life and rest in his unchanging power for life.

Paul then goes on to speak of more learning. I have learned the secret . . .

Different word than the first. This word in the original has the idea of being initiated into a mystery. Of being fully instructed, of being intimately acquainted with a thing that not everyone is acquainted with. He had found the “recipe” (MSG) for living independent of circumstance, the secret of living in every situation (NLT).

Paul’s secret sauce? I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Cue the Psalms.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
       From where does my help come?

(Psalm 121:1 ESV)

It’s a song of ascents. A song for the upward trek of the pilgrim pressing on to know the presence of God. A journey marked by hills. Hills hard to climb. Hills inhabited with the compromise of idols, high places, and altars built to lesser gods. Hills which often present more like mountains. Mountains seeming so high that to lift up our eyes towards them seem unscalable or impassable.

So, where does my help come from? What’s the secret of living in every situation?

My help comes from the LORD,
       who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
       He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
       the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
       nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
       He will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
       your going out and your coming in
       from this time forth and forevermore.

(Psalm 121:2-8 ESV)

The mystery to be learned towards contentment is found in the Source of the strength to do all things.

The secret of living in every situation is found in the One who has created everything, the Maker of heaven and earth. The One who promises to protect His own. The One who never sleeps nor slumbers, the One who is never caught off-guard or unawares. The One who has said He would be our shade. The One who has purposed to be our Keeper, Guardian, and Protector of our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forever more — which sounds a lot like being always aware and actively engaged in every situation.

Yeah, it’s a learning a process. So, sometimes I’m gonna forget. Or sometimes the next hill is gonna be bigger than all the previous hills and I’m gonna have my doubts. But if, by His gracious Spirit at work in me, I can remember that I really can do all things through Him who strengthens me; if, by His ever-present power, I can believe even amidst my unbelief that my help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth, then I too, like Paul, can learn the secret.

By His grace. For His glory.