For five springs, I served as an assistant coach on our middle school’s 7th-8th grade baseball teams. It was my oldest son, Ryan, who first got me involved with the gig. When he was a 6th grader, he volunteered to be one of the team’s managers until he could play the next year. From there it was just a hop, skip, and a jump to me becoming an assistant coach not only during Ryan’s 6th-8th grade years but also for the teams my youngest son, Royce, played on during his 7th and 8th grade years.

There were two games, played on consecutive days, that fascinated me during my first season as assistant coach. We lost the first game 11-2 and set baseball back at least a century with our poor play. But then the very next day we won the second game 10-0. In that game, we hit well, fielded well, and pitched well. It was hard to believe that the same team could play such vastly different games. That was my introduction to the reality that middle school baseball teams provide plenty of ups and downs.

Forrest Gump’s mother, played by Sally Field, is famous for saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.” Well, with all due respect to Sally Field, I might say that life is like a 7th-8th grade baseball team. Some days everything goes your way in that you hit what you swing at, catch what comes at you, and throw strike after strike. Other days, however, you look completely overmatched by striking out, making errors, and falling way behind in the score.

In Philippians 4:11-12, the apostle Paul instructs the Christian on how to handle life’s ups and downs. He says:

…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (N.K.J.V.)

Those words “whatever state” cover anything and everything that life can throw at you. Did you win 10-0? Be content. Did you lose 11-2? Be content. (You don’t have to be happy about losing, but you should be content with what a sovereign God has allowed to come your way.)

I’ve always thought the key word in Philippians 4:11 is “learned.” Paul says, “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” The point is, living with such contentment doesn’t come naturally to us. Even the great apostle had to learn how to do it, and the same can be said of us.

But what are we trying to learn? The lesson is two-fold. First, we should learn that when we are riding one of life’s ups, we mustn’t get greedy and demand more. For example, winning by a score of 10-0 shouldn’t cause us to want to win by 15-0 or 20-0. Second, we should learn that when we are riding one of life’s downs, we mustn’t get mad at God and start railing against Him. Losing 11-2 isn’t fun, but at least God gave us the health and the opportunity to be able to run onto the field and play the game. The truth is, blessings are all around us if we will just acknowledge them.

Do you know what our head coach said to me after we had won that second game 10-0? He said, “When you win, don’t get too high. And when you lose, don’t get too low.” That was good advice then for baseball, and it’s good advice now for life.

I don’t know what “state” you are in today, but strive to be content in it. If you are being abased, don’t let yourself get too low. Understand that God is still on the throne and He isn’t finished with you yet. On the other hand, if you are abounding, don’t let yourself get too high. Remember that nothing will bring you down quicker than pride (Proverbs 16:18).

You say, “I just don’t think I can ever learn such contentment. It’s beyond my ability.” Okay, fine, I believe you. But let me share with you the thought that is found right on the heels of our Philippians 4:11-12 passage. In the very next verse, Philippians 4:13, Paul says confidently:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (N.K.J.V.)

Does that mean, Christian, that Jesus will give you the strength it takes to learn to be content in regards to life’s highs? Yes, it does. And does it mean that He will do the same for you in regards to life’s lows? Yes, it does. You see, the contented balance that you need is found in Jesus. He is the One who taught it to Paul, and He will teach it to you too if you will let Him.