In all things

I was walking down the dirt path to meet up with the students today and passed a young woman who had a gray t-shirt on that said, “Hungry? I Was…”. My son has this same shirt which he received after doing a 24 hour fast with his youth group a few years ago. Seeing on this young African woman, who was pregnant, malnourished, with three kids in tow brought new meaning to this phrase.  She had known and felt hunger pains on daily basis, and not just to “experience it” but because that was her life. Our food is limited in portion, as well as protein. Some of the students have struggled with this over the last few weeks. I still have a bit saved up on the hips to live off of, but I must admit I did wake up hungry this morning. I was brought back to the vision of the woman yesterday when I started reading my bible this morning.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 3:11-13

More important than the physical circumstances, it is about ALL things. Having then not having. Loving than losing. Health to sickness. Energy to fatigue. Joy to sorrow. Peace to pain. In all things, it is God and God alone that gives us the strength.