To Hold One’s Peace #3

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

“And the man wondering at her held his peace…” (Genesis 24:21 KJV).

The King James Bible features nearly 60 references to men “holding [their] peace.” What is the denotation?

“And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:48). “But he held his peace, and answered nothing…” (Mark 14:61). “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not” (Luke 4:35). “And they held their peace…” (Luke 14:4). “And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:39). “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40).

“…[A]nd they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace(Luke 20:26). “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God,…” (Acts 11:18). “But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place” (Acts 12:17). “And after they had held their peace, James answered,…” (Acts 15:13). “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:…” (Acts 18:9). “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace (1 Corinthians 14:30).

The Authorized Version defines “holding the peace” as: “answered him not a word” (2 Kings 18:36; Isaiah 36:21), “found nothing to answer” (Nehemiah 5:8), “their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth” (Job 29:10), “dumb with silence” (Psalm 39:2), “keep silence” (Psalm 83:1; Isaiah 62:6), “shutteth his lips” (Proverbs 17:28), and “answered nothing” (Mark 14:61). “Hold” is “maintain or keep in a specified state or relation.” For example, “hold still” is “stay motionless.” Hence, “hold one’s peace” is “maintain silence.”

To Hold One’s Peace #2

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

“And the man wondering at her held his peace…” (Genesis 24:21 KJV).

The King James Bible features nearly 60 references to men “holding [their] peace.” What is the denotation?

“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace (Proverbs 11:12). “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28). “But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (Isaiah 36:21). I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once” (Isaiah 42:14).

“…have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?” (Isaiah 57:1). “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth” (Isaiah 62:1). “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,…” (Isaiah 62:6).

“Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?” (Isaiah 64:12). “My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war” (Jeremiah 4:19). Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests” (Zephaniah 1:7).

“And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David” (Matthew 20:31). “But Jesus held his peace,…” (Matthew 26:63). “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him” (Mark 1:25). “…But they held their peace (Mark 3:4). “But they held their peace…” (Mark 9:34).

There is still more….











































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To Hold One’s Peace #1

Monday, February 10, 2025

“And the man wondering at her held his peace…” (Genesis 24:21 KJV).

The King James Bible features nearly 60 references to men “holding [their] peace.” What is the denotation?

“…[A]nd Jacob held his peace until they were come” (Genesis 34:5). “…And Aaron held his peace (Leviticus 10:3). “And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her…” (Numbers 30:4; cf. verses 7,11,14). “And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest:…” (Judges 18:19). “…But he held his peace (1 Samuel 10:27). “…but hold now thy peace, my sister:…” (2 Samuel 13:20).

“…And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace (2 Kings 2:3; cf. verse 5). “Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace:…” (2 Kings 7:9). “But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (2 Kings 18:36).“…Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer” (Nehemiah 5:8). “So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace,…” (Nehemiah 8:11).

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time,…” (Esther 4:14). “Should thy lies make men hold their peace?…” (Job 11:3). “O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom” (Job 13:5). Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will” (Job 13:13). “The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth” (Job 29:10). “Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak” (Job 33:31; cf. verse 33).

“I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred” (Psalm 39:2). “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears…” (Psalm 39:12). “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God” (Psalm 83:1). Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;…” (Psalm 109:1).

There is more….












































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To Hold One’s Peace #1 “And the man wondering at her held
his peace…”
(Genesis 24:21
KJV).
 The King James Bible features nearly 60
references to men “holding [their] peace.” What is the denotation? 
“…[A]nd Jacob held his peace
until they were come”
(Genesis 34:5). “…And Aaron held
his peace
(Leviticus 10:3). “And her father hear her vow, and her
bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace
at her…”
(Numbers 30:4; cf. verses 7,11,14). “And they said unto him, Hold
thy peace
, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a
father and a priest:…”
(Judges 18:19). “…But he held his peace
(1 Samuel 10:27). “…but hold now thy peace, my sister:…” (2
Samuel 13:20).
 “…And he said, Yea, I know it; hold
ye your peace
(2 Kings 2:3; cf. verse 5). “Then
they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings,
and we hold our peace:…”
(2 Kings 7:9). “But the people held
their peace
, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was,
saying, Answer him not”
(2 Kings 18:36).“…Then held they their peace,
and found nothing to answer”
(Nehemiah 5:8). “So the Levites stilled all
the people, saying, Hold your peace,…”
(Nehemiah 8:11).
 “For if thou altogether holdest thy
peace
at this time,…”
(Esther 4:14). “Should thy
lies make men hold their peace?…”
(Job 11:3). “O that ye would
altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom”
(Job
13:5). Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come
on me what will”
(Job 13:13). “The nobles held their peace, and
their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth”
(Job 29:10). “Mark
well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak”
(Job
33:31; cf. verse 33).
 “I was dumb with silence, I held my
peace
, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred”

(Psalm 39:2). “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not
thy peace
at my tears…”
(Psalm 39:12). “Keep not thou silence, O
God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God”
(Psalm 83:1). Hold
not thy peace
, O God of my praise;…”
(Psalm 109:1).
 There is more….

Something Not Worth Losing

Sunday, February 9, 2025

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV).

Super Bowl Sunday comes annually in the United States. Teams fuel the intense passions in the athletic world by vying for a corruptible trophy. Howbeit, the competition in today’s Scripture is spiritual, is worldwide, never has a halftime, and involves the eternal souls of men!

The human soul is most zealous about religion, politics, and sports. These areas are most personal, so they generate many heated debates and conflicts. However, believe it or not, there are worse outcomes than losing a church member, losing an election, and losing a game. Losing your eternal soul is the greatest of all losses!

In the context of today’s Scripture, Jesus Christ told His Jewish disciples to “take up [their] cross, and follow [him]” (verse 24). “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (verse 25). They should not fear losing their earthly lives for His sake. What is most important is that they not lose their souls!

Jesus Christ declared there is more to life than this physical world and its temporal possessions. There is a spiritual world—an afterlife—to consider. In today’s Scripture, He asks them, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Does it make sense to emphasize this temporary world and its corruptible goods, to the point of ignoring your eternal soul, and wind up losing it in hellfire forever and ever?

Dear reader, there is more to you than just your physical body. Your inner man—your soul, your spiritual body—is everlasting. To ignore Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for your sins, is to remain dead in those sins, resulting in you spending eternity suffering God’s wrath in the lake of fire literally as a nameless, hopeless, disfigured creature.

Your soul is not worth losing! Trust Christ as your personal Saviour today!

The Worst Human Invention

Saturday, February 8, 2025

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19 KJV).

Sinners are “inventors of evil things” (Romans 1:30), including this….

What is the worst human invention? Nuclear weapons, taxes, money, television, and advertisements are some answers given. Yet, biblically speaking, the worst human invention is the idea that man is his own authority, his own creator (an absurdity indeed!). “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25).

Read Jeremiah 17:5-10: “[5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. [6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. [7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. [8] For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [9] The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Furthermore, man in his own deluded mind, in his own wicked heart, is obsessed with his own righteousness—which is but “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “dung” (Philippians 3:8). How much better it would be to, “Believe [Rely, trust, depend] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).












































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The Worst Human Invention “This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of
their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness”
(Ephesians
4:17-19 KJV).
 Sinners are “inventors of evil
things”
(Romans 1:30), including this…. What is the worst human invention?
Nuclear weapons, taxes, money, television, and advertisements are some answers
given. Yet, biblically speaking, the worst human invention is the idea
that man is his own authority, his own creator
(an absurdity indeed!). “Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen”
(Romans 1:25). Read Jeremiah 17:5-10: “[5] Thus
saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his
arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. [6] For he shall be like the
heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the
parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD
is. [8] For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that
spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but
her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [9] The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD
search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
 Furthermore, man in his own deluded
mind, in his own wicked heart, is obsessed with his own righteousness—which is
but “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “dung” (Philippians 3:8).
How much better it would be to, “Believe [Rely, trust, depend] on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”
(Acts 16:31). “Christ
died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day”
(1
Corinthians 15:3,4).

333’s 5000th – Awake or Asleep?

Thursday, February 6, 2025

“And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together” (Acts 20:8 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” marks a special ministry milestone!

Read today’s Scripture in context: “[7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. [8] And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. [9] And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. [10] And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. [11] When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. [12] And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.”

Dear Christian friends, for 5,000 consecutive days (!) we have gathered here around the Word of God rightly divided. In a sense that is “long preaching.” Being situated in a place of “many lights,” we are reminded of Psalm 119:105,130: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” It is our hope and prayer that we have not been like Eutychus (or the Corinthians [1 Corinthians 15:33,34], or the Ephesians [Ephesians 5:14-18], or the Romans [Romans 13:11-14]), paying more attention to the darkness of the evil world system “outside” instead of the sound Bible doctrine “inside,” reaching the point of a “deep sleep” (Christian inattentiveness) and subsequent death (the Christian mind and life separated from their function). After all, we have known many who have already departed from the faith—and they cannot rightly say they did not have a chance to know it with us.

Perhaps God in His grace will equip us for another 5,000 studies?! Onward we go in our Lord Jesus Christ!

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #32

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

According to the Bible rightly divided, it is not God’s current will to directly intervene in the affairs of man to punish evil, deliver the righteous, and remove the curse of sin from creation. He is neither apathetic, nor cruel, nor nonexistent: instead, He is gracious, merciful, and peaceful toward our human species that has rejected His dear Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) for almost 20 centuries. We should not despise His goodness and/or moan about His plan simply because we do not understand what we ought and have not gotten our way. Far better if we considered the Holy Scriptures dispensationally, find out what He is doing today, by faith do that, and thereby do His will.

Jesus Christ is not where He should be, Satan is not where he should be, the Church the Body of Christ is not where it should be, and the nation Israel is not where it should be. In God’s due time, all will be set right. If we could say it as succinctly as possible: God’s purpose and plan in creation will truly be brought to pass one day, but that cannot happen until redeemed Israel (Earth) and the Church the Body of Christ (Heaven) rule in their respective realms, and this cannot happen until Christ Jesus Himself reigns, which cannot occur until Satan is removed, which cannot happen until Israel is complete, which cannot occur until prophecy resumes, which cannot occur until mystery ends, which cannot transpire until the Body of Christ is closed, which cannot happen until the Dispensation of Grace is rescinded, which cannot be until the Apostle Paul’s ministry is terminated.

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…” (2 Timothy 2:12a). We members of the Church the Body of Christ—who have trusted the Lord’s finished crosswork alone as sufficient payment for our sins—understand that this world is not our home. Though this life is rough and tough, God’s grace is sufficient for us to handle all of its problems… all the way up to our departure to be glorified in, and govern, the heavenly places with Christ Himself.

-FINIS!-

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #31

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Victorious Christian living requires a proper, mature understanding of suffering. Therefore, the subject was covered in the most basic Pauline book. Sadly, since precious few ever learn Romans (and this ignorance is courtesy of denominationalism [manmade church tradition] and a pitiful failure to “rightly divide the word of truth” [2 Timothy 2:15]), many spend much of their time struggling (!!) so (!!) needlessly (!!) attempting to reconcile “loving God” with “suffering world.”

Observe Romans chapter 8: “[17] And if children [of God], then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. [18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

In light of 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:8, we know this painful world is but temporary—something that will not last forever. As believers in Christ, we have been saved from hopelessness, and foresee a restored, everlasting creation (and a resurrected, glorified body to function in the heavenly places).

Let us (finally!) summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #30

Monday, February 3, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Again, 2 Corinthians is Paul’s book of “suffering and comfort.” See chapter 1, verses 3-5,8-10: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ…. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;….”

Problems remind us not to depend on ourselves, but to lean on “the God of all comfort”—a role of God we could never appreciate unless we realized just how limited we are and how fallen our world really is. According to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul suffered a mysterious “thorn in the flesh” (an undesirable situation or condition—possibly a collection of upsetting situations or conditions). He initially saw it as a hindrance to his ministry, and thus thrice asked the Lord to remove it. Yet, his mind was changed when he heard the Lord’s answer: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s renewed mind led him to reply, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory [find value] in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Paul stopped asking for the problem’s removal, for he learned he could bear it (yea, all problems!) in Christ!

Again, we banish the Bible ignorance….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #29

Sunday, February 2, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Philippians is one of Paul’s so-called “prison epistles”—although it was technically written in Rome under house-arrest (see Acts 28:30,31). While awaiting his trial with the Roman Emperor (Nero?), the Apostle was always chained to a soldier; yet, he was free to have people come and go from his own hired (rented) house. Despite his numerous tribulations (especially confinement), Paul often mentioned “joy” and “rejoicing” in Philippians (see 1:4,18,25,26; 2:2,16-18,28; 3:1,3; 4:1,4,10). Hence, Philippians is also known as the “joy” epistle.

See chapter 4: “[6] Be careful [full of care or anxiety] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [9] Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me [Paul!], do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Thinking the Pauline way, praying the Pauline way, going about life the Pauline way, is mature and victorious Christian/grace living—even in the midst of tragedy!

Continue in chapter 4: “[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Whether good or bad circumstances, Paul “learned” (!) to be “content” or thankful for His resources in Christ that would sustain him….