What Can I Do?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

There is a saying most of us have heard, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” This is a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche, a World War II era German philosopher who included it in “his book of aphorisms, Twilight of the Idols” (https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/). The complete quote is as follows, “Out of life’s school of war—what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.” In context, it is referring to Nietzsche’s current time when the second Great War was in in full swing.

It has recently come to my attention, whether right or wrong, that it is being taught in some circles that “what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker.” There is a war of philosophies going on still today, as is evidenced here, one that I am sure will never end this side of eternity. The problem with both of these arguments, at their face value, is that there is not enough explanation to prove either. Let’s look at the truth of the matter and answer the question, “which one is correct?”

The truth is that neither is correct. The thing that doesn’t kill you is not the direct cause of strength or weakness, it is the person’s response to that event or thing. Some respond by giving up, therefore, the thing that doesn’t kill them does weaken them. But there are those who don’t allow an extreme situation to keep them down. This person is resilient and comes back stronger, in part, because they have developed strength due to the resistance.

It all depends on how the person responds.

The apostle Paul, when writing to the Philippians, told them that it is Jesus Christ who gives the strength, not circumstances or anything else. The New International Version says it this way, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). The “all this” he is referring to is found in the verses before (11 & 12) where he is speaking of contentment wherever he finds himself, whether in need, having plenty, well fed, or in hunger. This contentment is the true peace that only Jesus Christ can give.

Circumstances are not what make you stronger or weaker, it is your response. Paul shows the way to respond, with contentment that is only possible through Jesus Christ, the source of strength and contentment.