Exceedingly Abundantly More

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us”

Ephesians 3:20-21

I don’t know about you but this scripture is one that I’ve wrestled with and tried to wrap my mind around all of my life and still to this day don’t truly think I completely understand it. Looking back over the past 27 years most of my life there have been a whole lot of prayers I stopped praying because in my heart I truly did not believe that God could do more than I thought possible

Before I gave my life to Christ I remember hearing about a holy God that loved everyone but deep inside I believed he could love everyone except me. I knew that if I died I was going to Hell and thought there was nothing I or God could or ever do about it

After giving my life to Christ I remember years that I continued to battle with depression and anxiety. During this time I tried everything I possibly could ( medicine, therapy, numbing…) and when none of it worked I believed that it was just the life I had been destined to live.

Once God began to take away my depression and anxiety life was good and better than it had ever been but little did I know, soon God would soon begin to bring the light back into my eyes and then soon after He would begin to bring my joy back.

The question that’s been on my heart the past few weeks is, how many times do we settle for less than God had planned for us because we truly don’t believe that He can do more than we can ask or think and we are not patient or willing enough to wait for Gods time, so, we stop praying for what we long for which is to be made whole.

How many people have or will die not living life to their fullest potential because they believe the season they are in is as good as it gets. How many will die without knowing Christ because they don’t believe God could save someone like them. how many will die knowing Christ but living a life full of pain and shame because they truly don’t believe that God could heal them and how many will die never truly knowing joy because they don’t believe God can restore those things that have been taken by the ups and downs of life.

I know I personally have spent a lot of my life searching for more in things and not trusting that God could give me more in his time.

I think the key to this is “ in His time” as humans it is natural for us to be impatient. When God doesn’t come swooping down to save the day, or the healing doesn’t come in our time, we get impatient and begin looking for things to provide us more, when what it takes is surrendering to Gods timing and His ways. You see, when I became a Christian I expected my depression and anxiety to melt away and to be happy again but it took a whole lot of searching for other things, a whole lot of failing and a whole lot of learning to surrender to Gods timing and plans and learning to navigate where I’m at but to be expectant and prayerful for more.

Where do you find yourself today. Do you find yourself in a valley and searching for more, I challenge you to stop searching and surrender to Gods plan and timing, it might take time and it Might take resources but I challenge you to begin or continue to ask God for His path out.

if you find yourself at the top of the mountain thinking this is as good as it gets, I also challenge you to continue to seek Gods direction and stay expectant.

A few months ago I was challenged by a spiritual aunt to spend time every morning praying for Gods direction. This doesn't come easy to me, I’m not a morning person, I prefer to wake up hop in the shower and be ready as quick as possible for the day so I can have as much sleep as possible, but she challenged me to do it when it’s inconvenient rather than do it when it’s easy. This has been my act of surrendering to Gods plan and timing the past few months and I've felt Gods direction like never before as I’ve begun doing this. I challenge you to do the same.

A year or so ago, i was drawn to the verse Isiah 61:7 " Instead of shame you will receive double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. and so you will inherit a double portion in your land and everlasting joy will be yours." I believe that this is Gods desire for all of us. for everlasting joy to be ours