During World War II the Allied soldiers often gathered many hungry, homeless children and placed them in large camps. The children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well; they seemed restless and afraid. After months of trying to help the children sleep, a psychologist offered a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread. If they wanted more to eat, they could have it, but this particular slice was not to be eaten—it was just to hold.
Surprisingly, the slice of bread produced marvelous results. The child would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling there was something to eat tomorrow. That calmed the child.[1]
In a desire to calm the hearts and comfort the uneasiness of his readers, Paul tells them about the abundant riches of their God. As Paul begins to conclude his letter to the believers in Philippi, he knows that the people of Philippi likely have struggles and will encounter difficulties like he did, so he gives them encouragement and direction. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19, NASB).[2]
Notice the emphatic “my” at the beginning of the verse. We must remember the personal God helps us. Paul says, “my God” (emphasis added). He could have said, “God got me through” or “God will take care of you.” But instead he says “my God is the one who helped me and he will help you.” The God that allowed him to be put in prison—where he was writing this letter—is the same God that would sustain him through it.
Notice a full promise is described. He writes that God “will supply all your needs.” That’s the promise that they need to hold on to in their lives. This is a declaration of what God will do for us. When the food pantry is bare or the bank account is empty, God will provide.
Notice the basis for the promise. It says “according to” which is the reason or the basis for why God can supply every need that we have. It tells us why he can supply every need. And this is why Paul says he can be content and get through every circumstance: God does it. As Warren Wiersbe once said, “Contentment comes from adequate resources.”[3] And as Christians our adequate resource is God.
God is sufficient to get us through the various trials of life. God won’t fix every problem, but he will help us through every issue. God won’t heal every sickness, but he will strengthen us to endure it. God won’t restore every broken relationship, but he will help us forgive others and live in peace. God will supply all our needs.
[1] Charles L. Allen, God’s Psychiatry (Revell, 1988). Quoted in Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 463.
[2] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
[3] Warren Wiersbe, Be Joyful (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2008), p. 147.