Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory…
~Ephesians 3:20-21a
Sometimes I love to just think about those verses in Ephesians. About how God can and has done more than I’ve asked or imagined. He’s awesome, yes? And it’s good to reflect on the sweetness of his hugeness and goodness.
But last weekend I mulled a little longer than usual as I realized I tend to only ever reflect on these verses when life rocks. When I can list the ways God has, well, given me what I want (or maybe didn’t even realize I wanted) in ways that exceeded even my greatest hopes. And yeah, I love those times!
But what about when we hit the low points? What about when all we’ve asked or imagined feels a million miles away? When loss or hurt or rejection clench us in a vice grip? What does “immeasurably more” look like then?
Know what? I think the answer’s right there in the same chapter, just a couple verses earlier:
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Maybe “immeasurably more” isn’t always a list of tangible blessings or desires fulfilled…but is instead the sum of all the parts of the abundant and crazing consuming love of Christ. A love that may not always make sense–especially when life gets hard–but that always wins out over our circumstances.
It’s so much bigger than what we get or don’t get, isn’t it? It’s about His fullness pooling and spilling over in our hearts until each part of our life–highs and lows, all of it–is drenched in the cover of His love.
Which is absolutely more than I could ever ask for or imagine.
Your thoughts? This has been a different way of looking at these verses for me. I’d love to hear what you think.
Comments 24
When I’m in the middle of a crisis the “more” is how He holds me in His nail-scarred hands and wraps me in the bubble of His love.
Oh, I love that Pat…the bubble of His love.
These are a set of verses I’m mulling on as part of my word “abundant” this year, so it was great to look at your take too, Melissa. I’m amazed at how God constantly makes Scripture fresh for us. One of the phrases that catches me is “being rooted and established”…that’s on me. I need my roots to be deep, I need to be established in him so that the rest can happen.
Oh yeah, I forgot those were your verses for this year. They’re just so great and I come back to them time and time again. And like you said, it’s really cool when God presents them in a fresh way.
I think you nailed it. I always say when you feel at your lowest, when you feel you have nothing to praise God for, when all looks bleak and miserable you can always go to your default button.
Which is Christ’s sacrifice for us. If He never does another thing for you (which He will but if He didn’t) you still can praise Him and know you are abundantly blessed by the blood that flowed for you. You have eternal life. Grace–unmerited favor. Mercy. And when you look at it like that and begin to praise Him on default, He’ll do a work in you and before you know it, you’ll find so many other wonderful things to praise Him for. 🙂
Loved your reflections today, Tagg.
That is SO right, Jess…I was actually thinking about this the other day…that life could turn out completely not how I’ve hoped and dreamt my whole life and I would still have so much to praise God for. Nothing else he’ll ever do for me can compare to what he’s already done…not that I don’t hope he continues to bless me in fun ways…but you know what I mean.
Love your thoughts here, girl.
One word that really sticks out to me in this verse is “able.” He is ABLE to do more in our lives than we could have imagined. That’s something to hold onto when life gets rough too. That’s where trust comes in. Because I know that He is able, and if He doesn’t do exactly what I’m asking for–or if I’m going through a rough spot–there’s a reason. If He chooses not to, there’s something for me to learn. Often, that thing is just more trust, or maybe that “blessing” doesn’t just mean something tangible, like you mentioned.
I admit…when you’ve lost someone you love, this feels a bit like betrayal–that God is ABLE to heal, but doesn’t. But our perspective is so incredibly limited. Yes, God could have healed my mom, but I think He took her and allowed her to die for an even bigger reason. I don’t exactly know what that is, but I always pray it meant more lives saved.
What an incredible thing, to be able to have a more heavenly perspective. It’s something I’ve struggled with a lot lately.
I took this a little off track, but hopefully you tracked with me. 😉
Oh Linz, thank you for your insight here. I think “betrayed” is exactly how I would feel initially, reading these verses after losing someone I love…just like you said. Like, really, God? But then I look at you…and the grace-filled, trusting person you are…and how your heart is soft toward God…and I’m amazed.
Heavenly perspective. I love that. And want it.
What great insights, Melissa! The word that pops out from this verse for me is IMMEASURABLE. As writers, our words may cradle His love, grace and mercy – but they will never contain them fully. He is immeasurably UNCONTAINABLE – and that always keeps me looking toward Him to catch more glimpses of His character.
Yeah, immeasurable, awesome! I always seem to want to be able to quantify things…to know the limits of things…to know when I’m stepping to close to a boundary…but God’s love seriously doesn’t have limits…and that’s…crazy…and awesome…
When we are in that vice grip, “the more” for me is to trust and have faith. No matter how far away God may seem at a particular moment, I KNOW He is here, walking right next to me. Sometimes instead of giving me the answers, I think He wants me to search on my own. I always find them…mostly with the help of a ton of bricks that He’s had to drop on my head. Love His ways!
I love his ways, too. What you said about trusting God reminded me of something Lindsay Harrel says–He’s got this. I’ve been finding myself repeating that over and over…instead of “I’ve got this.” 🙂
I love this verse–in fact these two verses are my life verses this year! One thing that struck me (I usually focus on the ‘immeasurably more’ part) is that most of the words are praising God. We are to use all that He does give us to praise and give glory and to continue throughout all generations! Exciting!
Aren’t they just amazingly awesome verses?
It’s true…praising God. And I have a feeling, when we hit those crappy points in life, if we can just keep praising, then we’ll start to see the “immeasurably more” even in the midst of hardships.
A big aspect of the second verse you shared is love. Being rooted and established in love. When we’re established and rooted in love, the Bible tells us it gives us POWER – and through that POWER, God is able to do more than we ask for or imagine. It’s our job to be rooted, established, abiding, focused, walking in the love of God. The Bible shares verse after verse about love. It’s such an incredible power!
Love = Power. That is awesome.
“Maybe ‘immeasurably more’ isn’t always a list of tangible blessings or desires fulfilled…but is instead the sum of all the parts of the abundant and crazing consuming love of Christ.”
I think you’re right, Melissa, and thank you for shedding light on that today. Simply who He is– simply the miracle of His all-surpassing love… is immeasurably more.
Yes, who He is. I’ve been trying to get better lately at thanking God not just for the stuff He gives me, but who He is…and focusing on that. I’m so thankful for the tangible blessings, yes, the dreams that have come true in the past year. But even if all that was stripped away, I’d still have Him. And that’s enough, isn’t it.
God has been showing me the only “more” I need is more of Him. During a time this summer when I was waiting to hear back about a job I really wanted, God clearly asked me, “Do you want that job or do you want more of me?” I fell to my knees. I wanted more of Him.
I didn’t get the job. There is no doubt in my mind that I am getting more of Him. What “more” could I ask for?
~Melissa
“More” of him is better than “more” of anything. I think sometimes that’s hard to “feel” when we’re in the midst of really, reeeeally wanting something. But even when I’m having trouble feeling it, I know it’s true. 🙂
Oh yes!! The M&M life! Living in his great love, whether in plenty or in want, good or bad…that is definitely more than I could ask for!
What’s that verse of Paul’s?? About learning the secret to being content? Your comment reminded me of that. 🙂
“He describes him as a God that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. There is an inexhaustible fulness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more, abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more.” -Matthew Henry.
I decided my words couldn’t describe it quite like Matt could. 🙂
Love that, Mel!!