In Philippians 4:11–13, the Apostle Paul says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I’ve 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 Christ who gives me strength.”

A pretty familiar verse to all of us, I think. You know, I don’t think the Apostle Paul is saying, “I’m content or I’m satisfied just sitting here in prison, and I don’t need anything else, so I’ll just stay put here.” I think by content, maybe he meant, “I can and will endure this situation because Christ is going to give me the strength to go through whatever it is that I’m going through.” Being satisfied or content doesn’t mean that we stay put or that we don’t continue to improve our situation.

So, I’m in my second stint of being the head coach for Douglas High School baseball. And nine years ago, when I came back, I inherited a team that hadn’t won a game. They were 0–20 in the previous season. And my first year, we didn’t do much better. We won three and lost seventeen, I believe.

But, you know, part of being a baseball coach is taking care of your field—unless, of course, you’re lucky to have artificial turf, in which case it’s a little bit easier for you. But we don’t have artificial turf. And of course, it’s your goal every year to make it to the show, which obviously is the state tournament.

So, I had been to the state tournament three times previously in my coaching career, but I’m honest when I say that I didn’t think it was going to happen again before I retire. Over these past eight seasons, there have been many times where I’m on the field in November, December, January, and February. I’d be raking leaves. I’d be pulling dead weeds. I’d just be working—putting some carpet down and just doing general field maintenance kinds of things—in anticipation of the season starting in late February.

And quite often during those times, I’d find myself kind of making a deal as I was raking or pulling leaves. I’d be like, “Okay, God, if I could just make it to the state tournament one more time, all this hard work and weed pulling—surely it’s going to pay off. If I can just get there one more time.”

Well, last year it actually happened, and everything came together. We went on a run. We won five of our last six postseason games—five of them all by blowouts. The one game we lost was by one run to the eventual state champion. And I had done it. And I thought, “Wow, all this hard work.” I was just so satisfied in finally getting to do that again. I got all this hard work on this field. I’d sure like to make it. I’m going to go back there.

So quite often during those times, I’d find myself saying or trying to make a deal with God: “Man, if all this hard work on the field—if I could just make it back to the state tournament one more time because of all this hard work that I’m putting in.”

Well, last year it finally happened. Everything came together. We went on a run. We won five of our last six postseason games, all five of them by blowouts. But the one loss that we had was by one run to the team that ended up winning the state tournament. But, you know, it was probably the most satisfying season that I’ve had in all the years that I’ve coached. All that hard work had finally paid off, and I was so satisfied.

And then about two weeks ago, as I was raking, pulling weeds, just working away—and we’d put in some new sod, so I was watering, I was weeding—and I did it. I literally said, “You know, Lord, this is hard work. Boy, I’d love to make it back to the state tournament one more time.” And the words had no sooner come out of my mouth when I realized, “Wait a minute. I just made it six months ago, and here I am.” Obviously, I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted more. I wanted to get back there again.

You know, being satisfied in the Lord doesn’t mean that we just quit. I’ve been satisfied plenty after a large meal, but the next day I’m eating again. And I’ve been satisfied with a good season or a job well done. I’m satisfied in my marriage, but I want it to be even better. And our walk with Jesus shouldn’t be any different. We can be satisfied. We can be content. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t continue to strive for more.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 9, it tells us to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. So no matter where we find ourselves—whether we’re content or in the middle of a struggle—we continue to press in. We continue to seek more of Him and more from Him. And if you’re running the race in such a way as to win the prize, you don’t stop along the way and take a long break. You press in. When your legs get heavy, you keep going. And when you’re headed downhill to the finish line with a big lead, you don’t just stop and walk.
Like Philippians 4 says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” Regardless of where we find ourselves, we continue to press on in Christ.

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Father God, we thank You for Your promises. Help us, Lord, not to just seek You in the hard times, but in the good times as well. And wherever we find ourselves in this race that we call life, help us to run it and to be in it to win it. Help us to represent You well, that we might bring others into Your kingdom. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.