“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)
One year I ordered custom tree ornaments as gifts, which had the above scripture verse printed on them. It’s the most hopeful phrase in the Bible, “beyond what we ask or think…” it’s a phrase packed with hope, reminding us that God can and will always exceed our expectations.
I can see how God is doing this in my own life, but it’s also inspiring to remember all the stories in scripture where God went beyond what anyone thought or asked for. We should not be surprised that He still does it today because He is the same God.
He went beyond what the Israelites thought or asked for, when He parted the sea for them to walk through. He went beyond what Joshua thought or asked for, when He made the walls of Jericho crumble into the earth. He went beyond what Mary and Martha ever thought or asked for, when Jesus called their deceased brother back to life, right out of his tomb.
God’s greatest example of doing beyond what we could ever think or ask for, was when He took on human flesh. Jesus not only chose to live among all kinds of people, revealing God’s love for them, but He also offered Himself for all, as the sacrificial Lamb of God. No one could imagine such a free gift or the magnitude of such love. Many people still don’t believe it, since it’s not what anyone would ever think or expect.
I received an unexpected gift when I visited my son in the Nursing Facility last Friday. As I met his nursing assistant, Al, in the hallway, he cheerfully told me that as he was shaving Jon, he spoke and said to Al, “Don’t shave me.”
What? I could hardly believe that he talked, much less, said something that even made logical sense after being unresponsive for over two months. After a depressed skull fracture, which seriously injured his brain’s speech area, how could he speak? It is beyond what I ever thought could happen.
I asked Jon a few questions, and he moved his mouth, saying words, but spoke so softly, that I couldn’t understand what he said. Still, the fact that he is attempting to speak, and that Al heard him speak clearly, is encouraging. He also has a strong left arm that pushes anyone away who tries to do anything for him.
So, some progress has been made in trying to speak. He moves 3 out of 4 very strong limbs. He is grouchy and uncooperative, but it’s still better than being comatose and unresponsive.
We all have different levels of faith, while we try to believe God to move the mountains in our lives. Sometimes when we are unable to gather enough faith to believe, God, in His mercy, just steps in and makes things happen.
I believe God wants to show us that whatever we think or ask for, He is going to surpass it, far beyond our expectations. We may be at a turning point in our faith, and God is ready to step in and do something that we haven’t thought of, or even asked for. That’s how God works.
He is the same God today, and He can part any sea and crumble every wall. He will still speak life to people, calling them out of a tomb, to live the rest of their life with resurrection power.
Lord, I pray that you inspire each reader today, to know that you have much more for us than we have ever thought or asked for. We thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do in our lives. Amen