I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. – Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Here is another excerpt from Admiral William H. McRaven’s fantastic May 2014 commencement address to the graduates of the University of Texas at Austin:

During the land warfare phase of training, the students are flown out to San Clemente Island, which lies off the coast of San Diego. The waters off the coast of San Clemente are a breeding ground for great white sharks. To pass seal training there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim. Before the swim the instructors joyfully brief the students on all the species of shark that inhabit the waters off the coast of San Clemente. They assure you, however, that no student has ever been eaten by a shark – at least, not that they can remember. But you were also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position, stand your ground. Do not swim away. Do not act afraid. And, if the shark, hungry for a midnight snack darts, towards you, then summon up all your strength and punch him in the snout, and he will turn and swim away. There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim, you’ll have to deal with them. So, if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.

Life’s sharks come in all different shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are people who love making your life miserable, just out of spite. Sometimes they are difficult circumstances brought on by your own sins, and you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. Sometimes illness takes its toll, little by little draining you of the physical and emotional energy you once took for granted. Whatever form the sharks come in, they swim your way with one thought alone in mind: destroy!

When the sharks swim our way, we ought to do exactly what Admiral McRaven suggests; we should stand our ground, facing the sharks head on. But, we should not attempt to face them alone. Rather, we should face them as the Apostle Paul faced them, arm-in-arm with Jesus Christ. As Philippians 4:13 teaches, the strength to endure all things doesn’t come from human will power. It comes from Christ-power. The inner strength of even the strongest human being will give out eventually, which means that the man, woman, boy, or girl who trusts in human strength will eventually fall to a shark who is stronger. In Philippians 4:13, however, we learn that Christ is able to infuse His strength into us without stopping, and with His supernatural, unending, unbeatable strength lifting us up, we can indeed face any shark – and win.

“Facing any shark – and winning” doesn’t necessarily mean we will have victory over every shark as the world defines victory. In the eyes of mankind, Christ was an utter failure when He hung on the cross. But, in the eyes of God the Father, Christ could have had no greater victory than the one He won while on the cross. In that moment of “failure” to the human mind, Christ provided for the salvation of the human race – for all those who would trust Him as Savior – and defeated Death and Hell in one, singular act of self-sacrifice.  No greater victory was ever won, and no greater victory ever will be.

The same power to endure shame; the same power to endure pain; the same power to endure rejection, sorrow, and despair is ready, willing, and able to be at your disposal and at mine, if we will but ask for it and trust in the Source of it: Christ Jesus. If you haven’t had your infusion of supernatural strength today, set aside all of your distractions, take your Lord by the hand of prayer and of Bible meditation, and take your infusion with joy!